Atlantic Aboriginal Economic Development Integrated Research Program (AAEDIRP)

Economic development in Aboriginal communities and the social impact of economic development in those communities is of great interest to Aboriginal communities and organizations as well as government agencies interested in ascertaining which policies and practices enhance or prevent development.

The study focused on understanding the nature of Aboriginal/non-Aboriginal business partnerships in the region, their role in terms of broader Aboriginal economic activity, both the successes and challenges experienced by businesses and individuals involved in them, and the best practices that can be used to guide future initiatives.

This study looks at how well Aboriginal labour force participation strategies are working for Aboriginal people in the Atlantic region and how they can be improved. It finds that Aboriginal employment levels still lag considerably behind those of the general Canadian populace. However, rates have been increasing in the last twenty years, particularly since the introduction of employment equity legislation. The findings also show that multiple barriers to Aboriginal employment continue to exist.

This project attempts to identify and examine the critical factors for success in a comparison of the different First Nations in Atlantic Canada engaged in the commercial fisheries who received funding as a result of the Marshall decision. The study brings together the voices of 90 Mi'kmaq and Maliseet fishers and fisheries coordinators, documenting what they see as successes and areas for improvement in the First Nations fishery in Atlantic Canada.

This study examines the education and employment experiences of a cross-section of Aboriginal people in Atlantic Canada who completed post-secondary studies, as well as those who did not complete their studies, to identify possible barriers and challenges they experienced during their post-secondary studies and while searching for employment.