Let's hear more indigenous success stories.

• Author: Calliou, Brian
• Position: Viewpoint

Ask your average Canadian their impression of this country's indigenous people and their hopes for prosperity, stability and success in their communities. In all likelihood, you will hear about a story they read recently involving an aboriginal community's struggle with housing, education, youth motivation or even suicide.

What you probably won't hear is an answer that demonstrates even a basic knowledge of Canada's indigenous people's involvement in the economic growth of this country; the initiatives they have under way for preparing the large numbers of indigenous youth poised to enter Canada's work force; or even the names of two or three aboriginal organizations achieving remarkable success with their enterprises.

Here at the Banff Centre, we have spent the past two years in an intensive investigation of what makes an aboriginal community successful. "What are the wise practices that lead to success?" we asked as we set out with a team of applied researchers, shadowed by a video crew and a group of highly engaged and eager aboriginal youth, to visit enterprises operated by four indigenous communities in Alberta. The resulting case studies, details of which are now available to all interested in learning from them, were developed from research and conversations with the Miisew Group of Companies, Metis Crossing, the Alberta Indian Investment Corp.; (AIIC) and Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park.

Rocky Sinclair, a principal with the AIIC, headquartered just outside Edmonton, was one of the representatives from the research communities presenting at an international symposium at the Banff Centre last month.

Mr. Sinclair shared the AIIC's struggles and triumphs since its formation in 1987, as well as its numerical and personal markers of success. This "developmental" lender has provided more than 800 loans worth $53 million to aboriginal start-up businesses. Even more powerful: "Were seeing generational success--were lending to the kids of people we loaned to 20 years ago," he said.

The success stories depicted in these studies--along with the energetic and thoughtful dialogue of the symposium speakers and delegates from Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand--form a collective wisdom that we believe can and will help other indigenous leaders in shaping their communities' futures.

The topic of youth and their involvement in the future success of...