"Although they express optimism, Canadian executives see more barriers than enablers in the public policies and institutions that influence their economic relationships with Aboriginal people.
"The role of the CCAR is to: Facilitate learning, networking and professional development. Demonstrate the importance and value of a corporate Aboriginal relations strategy. Share innovative examples of managing corporate Aboriginal relations and partnerships. Provide leadership by leveraging the Council members' knowledge and expertise to address business and societal challenges related to Aboriginal issues."
"For me, it is most important that we honour the things that we as Aboriginal people can bring to the business table. I do not think that the mainstream has a lock on the best way to do business. The best way is for us to learn and share together. We have to take time to reflect on our decisions to enter into the mainstream economy. The costs and implications must be clearly understood for us in relationship to our visions that we have for our communities. That was really very nicely set up at the beginning of the conference.
"Despite the initial impression that ecotourists are an ideal market for indigenous tourism developers, a closer examination suggests that these groups do not necessarily share similar views of the relationship between humans and nature. Conflict is likely to arise between these groups unless a greater understanding of these differences is achieved and successfully used in the planning and management of indigenous tourism developments."
The tools, traditions and relationships that it takes to re-build First Nations, to realize good governance, were the three key elements discussed at the Aboriginal Financial Management Association of B.C.- INAC conference on Governance and Accountability, held in Vancouver, June 10-11, 2002.
"This study examines the historical development of corporate governance structures in First Nations communities in British Columbia, where development corporations are employed to assist privately-owned and community-owned entrepreneurial enterprises. First Nations entrepreneurial activity functions in an environment where business must market to a global economy while preserving traditional values, beliefs and other cultural elements. A brief history of First Nations and their enterprise development efforts is presented.
