Presenting organizations:
Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB)
2 Berkely St., Suite 310
Toronto, ON
Tools for Supporting Aboriginal Economic Success
Description
The CCAB Progressive Aboriginal Relations program provides a framework for Aboriginal communities and economic development corporations to evaluate partner and proponent corporations. The PAR program examines and rates corporate performance in the areas of Aboriginal employment, business development, community relationships, and leadership actions.
CCAB has been conducting research on the Aboriginal economy for over 5 years, we will discuss the best practices identified from interviews with Aboriginal entreprenerus, executives from Aboriginal Economic Development Corporations (AEDCs) and non-Aboriginal corporate leaders. Specifically, we will focus on procurement, finance and governance.
What Participants will learn by attending
Participants will learn how the PAR program and framework work and are applied to companies, and how they can apply the PAR framework to evaluate partner and proponent corporations. What are the common challenges and opportunities identified by Aboriginal business people, and what are the best practices for overcoming them.
Participants will also learn about best practices in procurement, financing and governance. We will present on the insights and experiences of other Aboriginal business and AEDC leaders to highlight some of the strategies and processes they have employed to succeed. The new Strategy for First Nations economic development will be discussed, and we will work to identify key priority areas to ensure the content will support you as you build economies in your communities.
Presenters
Joseph Bastien
Director, Business Development and Strategic Initiatives
Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB)
2 Berkely St., Suite 310
Toronto, ON
P: 416-961-8663 x 230
E: Jbastien@ccab.com
Max Skudra
Director, Research and Government Relations
Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB)
2 Berkely St., Suite 310
Toronto, ON
P: 416-961-8663 x 232
E: Mskudra@ccab.com
Presenter Biographies
Joseph Bastien
Joseph is Anishinaabe (Ojibway) from Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve. Joseph’s work explores the legal and political environment of First Nations consultations and agreement negotiations, trends in corporate social responsibility and risk management, and methods to encourage engagement and improve relations amongst First Nations communities, governments, and corporate stakeholders. Joseph has over 15 years of experience working with Aboriginal communities and organizations, and has previously served with the British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines, the Ontario Power Authority, and the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC).
Max Skudra
Max has been working for the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, conducting research on the Aboriginal economy, since 2011. With a background in Human Rights, business development and finance, Max is currently working on a National Strategy for First Nations economic development. His research has led to reports on Aboriginal entrepreneurs, community owned corporations, and Aboriginal business relationships, as well as conferences and roundtables on these topics across the country. This work has informed the Government of Ontario's $25 million Aboriginal Economic Development Fund, federal and provincial policy, corporate strategy and academic research.