Canku Ota

(Many Paths)

An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America

December 28, 2002 - Issue 77

Opportunities

Here you will find listings of:

• Positions Available - including Fellowships and Internships;
• Scholarship, Award and Grant Information; and
• Event Announcements.

• We receive these announcements from various sources including Harvard University Native American Program (HUNAP)

• To view additional listing from previous issues, click here

12/28/02

Help Toys for Tots with a Simple Click

For each click on the "Toys are Us" logo from 12/2 - 12/31, Excedrin Brand Quick Tabs will donate money to help the Marine Corps Toys For Tots Foundation buy gifts for needy families.

Please tell your friends! Share this link with everyone!

One click per person per day!

Here's the link: Go do it: http://www.excedrin.com/

12/28/02

Industry Canada Launches Enhanced Aboriginal Business Canada Program

OTTAWA, December 18, 2002 -- Industry Canada today announced enhancements to the Aboriginal Business Canada program. Effective immediately, these measures will improve opportunities for Aboriginal entrepreneurs and organizations across Canada to benefit from this program, by expanding eligibility criteria and operating guidelines.

Definitions for eligible tourism and innovation projects have been significantly widened. For example, all viable tourism proposals are now eligible; previously, financial assistance was limited to cultural tourism and eco-tourism projects. Importance will be placed on assisting first-time entrepreneurs and new manufacturing, science/technology, or business and professional services firms. Provisions have been added to augment support to existing businesses with market expansion and innovation projects. Contributions for acquisition projects resulting in new enterprises will also be more widely available. These program enhancements will be implemented with current resources.

Continued emphasis will be placed on the business expertise and management capacity of client firms, on Aboriginal youth entrepreneurship development, and on strengthened Aboriginal business and financial organizations.

"On behalf of the National Aboriginal Economic Development Board, I commend Industry Canada for finding ways to increase the number of Aboriginal entrepreneurs who will benefit from this programming," said Roy Whitney, Chairperson of the National Aboriginal Economic Development Board.

These measures reflect the Government of Canada's commitment, expressed in the Speech from the Throne, to strengthening Aboriginal entrepreneurship and business expertise. Funding was provided for in the December 2001 budget and is therefore built into the existing financial framework.

Administered by Industry Canada, Aboriginal Business Canada promotes the growth of Aboriginal businesses by providing services, information and support to clients in all sectors ofthe economy. Services and assistance are available to Canadian Indians, on and off reserve, Inuit and Métis people. For further information, and for more detailed information on criteria for
support, visit abc-eac.ic.gc.ca or call 1-800 O Canada.

For more information, please contact:

Media Relations
Industry Canada
(613) 943-2502

Joanne Spanton
Aboriginal Business Canada
(613) 954-4061

Notice to Editors: Please see Backgrounder for information about Aboriginal Business Canada and assistance available under its enhanced programming.

_________________________

Backgrounder

Industry Canada's Aboriginal Business Canada (ABC) program works with business clients, delivery organizations, Aboriginal business and financial institutions, the National Aboriginal Economic Development Board, and many government departments and agencies, to support and promote the growth of Aboriginal business. Results show that client firms innovate, create employment and contribute to Canada's economic and trade performance.

Various research shows that, since 1995:

• approximately 2000 Aboriginal enterprises are in business today as a result of direct contributions from Aboriginal Business Canada; at least half of the businesses assisted were able to lever additional support from other financial sources;

• approximately 35 000 full- and part-time jobs have been created as a result of ABC client projects;

• approximately 13 600 Aboriginal businesses were created as a result of ABC's indirect support through Aboriginal Capital Corporations and Access to Capital components; and

• ABC clients were more likely to innovate than Aboriginal firms that were not clients.

Building on this success, ABC has enhanced its programming and added new features. At the same time, program priorities remain: innovation; trade and market expansion; tourism; youth entrepreneurship development; and strengthened Aboriginal financial and business development organizations.

Support is available for:

• first-time entrepreneurs or clients planning to establish or acquire a business involving a commercial activity new to them -- to be eligible, the business proposed must fall under one of the following categories: tourism; manufacturing; business, professional, scientific and technical services; and businesses linked to already-specified major developments in remote locations;

• clients already operating a business -- ABC provides support for projects that involve innovation, marketing and expansion into new domestic or international markets;

• Aboriginal youth entrepreneurs -- individuals between the ages of 18 and 29; and

• Aboriginal financial and business organizations -- for Access to Capital initiatives, along with advocacy and research activities.

Effective immediately, the following new measures have been introduced to improve participation in ABC's programming:

• all viable tourism proposals will now be considered eligible -- previously, support was limited to cultural tourism and eco-tourism projects;

• the definition used for innovation projects has been significantly widened, helping to ensure that Aboriginal people participate more fully in Canada's Innovation Strategy;

• eligible trade and market expansion activity has also been broadened to support additional domestic opportunities;

• targeted support to first-time entrepreneurs and to new manufacturing, professional, business, scientific or technical services firms has been added;

• a new provision has been added to support entrepreneurs proposing a new business linked to specified major economic developments in very remote areas; and

• support for acquisitions has been made more widely available to all entrepreneurs as a business option, including in rural and urban settings.

Before ABC can consider supporting any proposed venture, the entrepreneur or organization applying for support must demonstrate Aboriginal ancestry, equity to invest, experience and project viability. It is important to consult complete information on eligibility criteria and requirements. For further information, visit abc-eac.ic.gc.ca or call 1-800 O Canada.

Thanks to:

Haa Ai from Education Nunavut (EC&SS Division)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/haa-ai

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