Aboriginal Women's Community Economic Development: Measuring and Promoting Success [Institute for Research on Public Policy, IRPP]

"In this study, Isobel Findlay and Wanda Wuttunee explore innovation in Aboriginal women’s community economic development (CED) in Canada. Their research is centred on three case studies of successful CED in urban, rural and remote settings. The stories of the dedicated women who have made a significant mark within their communities show that it is possible to pursue business objectives while living the values of their culture and assuming their rightful place in the community. In this context, the authors critique current approaches and tools for measuring the impact of CED. In their view, there continues to be an over-reliance on quantitative measures that are largely focused on inputs and outputs, and insufficient weighting of factors such as the social and cultural costs and benefits of doing business in Aboriginal communities. As a result, those responsible for evaluation and policy making “often leave Aboriginal women’s work out of the accounting.” The authors conclude that the full potential of Aboriginal women’s enterprise will be realized only if policy and program decision making can be redesigned to recognize, learn from and leverage the investments of Aboriginal women’s labour, leadership and creativity; respect the cultural values at the heart of their enterprises; and understand the importance of collective as
well as individual well-being."