Success factors of Aboriginal women entrepreneurs: a study of Mohawk community in Canada [International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, IJESB]

"Research in indigenous entrepreneurship as well as women and entrepreneurship is growing. This paper presents 11 case studies on women Aboriginal entrepreneurs in Quebec, Canada. For Aboriginal peoples, small business and entrepreneurship is intimately linked to community and cultural survival. Within these communities, women assume major roles and are active participants and leaders in politics and in business. This research examines several models of entrepreneurship – traits, behavioural and environmental. The Aboriginal women entrepreneurs interviewed show a profound need for conformity and a strong tendency towards collectivism. The business strategies of this group are mostly focused on serving local community needs. This inwardly focused approach may be due to their collectivist orientation or to the availability of limited information on external markets for products and services. This paper concludes with some suggestions on policy directions to encourage Aboriginal entrepreneurship as a means of economic development, self-determination and community sustainability."