June is National Indigenous History Month, and June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day, a reminder for people across Canada to celebrate the history and diversity of First Nations, Inuit & Métis Peoples across Canada.
To support the Indigenous members of our community and their allies, we have compiled a list of resources and support organizations for Indigenous business owners and educational materials for their allies.
For Indigenous business owners:
Support Organizations:
- Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) builds bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, businesses, and communities through diverse programming, providing tools, training, network building, major business awards, and national events.
- Sage Initiative is an Indigenous Womxn’s impact investing collective. Sage Initiative puts Indigenous womxn squarely in the driver’s seat, providing the skills and pathways to become impact investors that honour Indigenous concepts of commerce. (For investors and aspiring Investors)
- Empowered Nations supports Indigenous self-determination and prosperity through accessible entrepreneurship and innovation training, mentorship, and networking.
- Indigenous Innovation Initiative is an Indigenous innovation platform. Their goal is to empower Indigenous innovators and communities to identify and solve their own challenges, transforming lives and driving inclusive growth and health through innovation.
- Indigenous Prosperity Foundation brings donors, funders and granting organizations together and partners with Indigenous Financial Institutions and ecosystem partners across Canada to support underserved Indigenous women, youth, and early-stage entrepreneurs to start and grow thriving businesses.
- National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) is a network of over 50 Indigenous Financial Institutions (IFIs) dedicated to stimulating economic growth for all Indigenous people in Canada.
Resources and Programs:
- Métis Business Finder: Are you a Métis business owner? List your business in the Métis Business Finder for free.
- Tools for Indigenous Business | CCAB
- CCAB Awards for Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs | CCAB
- Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Program | Futurpreneur
- Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program: Access to Business Opportunities | Indigenous Services Canada
- Resource Roundup: Essential Support for Indigenous Entrepreneurs | Startup Canada
Info for non-indigenous people/Allies:
- Support local Indigenous businesses near you:
- Take the Four Seasons of Reconciliation course via BDC Note: you must create a BDC account for free access
- Indigenous Innovation Initiative – Inquiry and Learning Bundle
- Native Land is an app to help map Indigenous territories, treaties, and languages. Includes Interactive world map
- Territory Acknowledgement | Native-Land: Guide to creating your own Territory/Land Acknowledgement
- Whose Land is a web-based app that uses GIS technology to assist users in identifying Indigenous Nations, territories, and Indigenous communities across Canada.
- Indigenous Peoples | The Canadian Encyclopedia: Test your knowledge of Indigenous peoples in Canada and their histories.
- Read:
Note: This resource list has been curated by the Canadian Women’s Chamber of Commerce for educational purposes in order to support Indigenous people in Canada and their allies. We are not affiliated with these groups and are not responsible for any changes in availability, outdated information or broken links on these websites.
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About CanWCC
The Canadian Women’s Chamber of Commerce (CanWCC) is the only chamber of commerce in Canada that advocates explicitly for diverse women-identified and non-binary entrepreneurs, founders, and business owners. Launched in 2018, CanWCC is a national not-for-profit organization with a mission to create equal opportunities for women-identified and non-binary entrepreneurs to thrive in business.
CanWCC is a nationally incorporated, not-for-profit organization dedicated to advocacy, advancement, and connection for and on behalf of its members. CanWCC’s membership consists of women-identified entrepreneurs and organizations that are at least 50% woman(en)-owned and led.