Blog

05 Nov 2019

Marie-Christine Tremblay

A great place to stop

The Relais de la Cache is a company owned by the Micmacs of Gesgapegiag. Located in the middle of the Gaspésie region, about 70 km from Gesgapegiag and in proximity to the Gaspésie National Park, the site is equipped with a gas station, a motel, a convenience store and a restaurant. The following article tells the young company’s story from its acquisition to the challenges that its owners and managers have had to overcome.

22 Nov 2019

Marie-Christine Tremblay

Welteg: a buyers club turned into a web shop and retail store

Anna Isaac is a Mi’gmaq entrepreneur in Listuguj, who with her spouse Frank Brisk, owns Welteg, an e-shop and brick and mortar store. In business for some years now, Anna has a very inspiring entrepreneurial path which shows the positive impact that mentorship can have in the life of a person.

14 Nov 2019

Marie-Christine Tremblay

From Selling T-Shirts to the Construction Industry: A Portrait of an Inspiring Entrepreneur

If there’s one thing you can say about Victoria LaBillois, a Mi'gmaq from the community of Listuguj, is that she has an entrepreneurial spirit! This entrepreneur loves challenges and creating new businesses in response to any opportunities that may arise. A portrait of this inspiring entrepreneur follows.

05 Nov 2019

Frédérick Martel, CPA, Entrepreneurship Technical Advisor

Developing in a Structured Manner

Economic development in Gesgapegiag, a Mi’gmaq community located along the Baie-des-Chaleurs, has been growing steadily in recent years. This progress is due for the most part to good practices put in place in the community in terms of strategic planning.

05 Nov 2019

Marie-Christine Tremblay

The November 2019 issue of the Nikan Bulletin is online!

The November 2019 issue of the Nikan bulletin, which focuses on the Gesgapegiag and Listuguj communities, is available online.

05 Nov 2019

Du 27 au 30 octobre a eu lieu la 26e conférence annuelle de CANDO (Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers) à l’hôtel Hilton Lac-Leamy de Gatineau. Un événement qui a rassemblé plus de 350 participants, principalement des conseillers en développement économique provenant de toutes les provinces et territoires du Canada.

Steve Laveau, Economic Development Advisor

FNQLEDC was Well Represented at a National Event

The 26th CANDO Annual Conference (Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers) was held in Gatineau, from October 26 to 30, at Hôtel Hilton Lac-Leamy. The important event brought together more than 350 participants, mainly advisors from the economic development sector that came from every province and territory in Canada.

29 Oct 2019

Véronique Édé

StartUP Nations 2019 in pictures: A social economy event for First Nations youth

The FNQLEDC and the First Nations Social Economy Regional Table (FNSERT) are proud to present the video of the second edition of the StartUP Nations, an event targeting First Nations youth and focusing on youth collective entrepreneurship.

26 Sep 2019

Véronique Édé

Two Young Entrepreneurs in the Construction Industry

S.M.D Construction Inc. is a young start-up company based in Wendake. Officially launched in April 2019, it specializes in construction works and holds a general contractor permit from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ).

23 Jul 2019

Marie-Christine Tremblay

As a New CEDO, Having the Right Tools is Key

Stéphane Lecours-Aubin stepped into position as a Community Economic Development Officer (CEDO) in the fall of 2018. Formally trained as a Human Resources Advisor, the economic development sector was totally new to him. That being said, he had to seek out the right tools for the job in order to support Wôlinak and Odanak entrepreneurs. Based upon his experience and with his collaboration, you will find below, a few tricks that may be useful to other newly appointed CEDOs.

23 Jul 2019

Martine Bergeron-Milette possède une entreprise dans le secteur du transport et du terrassement. Voici le portrait de cette entrepreneure.

Marie-Christine Tremblay

Company Profile : Transport Déménagement DEC

In Wôlinak, Martine Bergeron-Milette owns an active business in a traditionally male dominated sector: transportation and landscaping. Below, we’ve painted a brief portrait of this entrepreneur’s journey along with her company, Transport Déménagement DEC.

28 Jun 2019

Marie-Christine Tremblay

A Wide Range of Services

In the past few years, the Grand Conseil de la Nation Waban-Aki (GCNWA) has developed a wide range of services which include a variety of technical services, territorial consultation services, social services, etc.

28 Jun 2019

L'entreprise Fromagerie Odanak, située à Odanak.

Marie-Christine Tremblay

Ensuring the Visibility of the Abenaki Nation and its Enterprises

Wôlinak and Odanak are small communities, but still, together, they have over thirty enterprises, in addition to an industrial park. To make their business known and to foster the development of their business, a number of very specific actions have been implemented.

28 Jun 2019

Véronique Édé

Aboriginal Youth: a Driving Force for Economic Growth and Cultural Transmission

More and more First Nations Youth are showing their determination to contribute to the economic and cultural prosperity of their communities through the perpetuation of traditions. Frédérique Gros-Louis meets exactly this definition. She is a young entrepreneur of the Huron-Wendat Nation and she creates regalia and customised beadwork.

28 Jun 2019

Les participants de Ma chance de devenir entrepreneur

Marie-Christine Tremblay

A Contest to Stimulate Private Entrepreneurship in Wemotaci

From June 10th to the 13th, 2019, Nikanik Economic Development Corporation, in collaboration with the FNQLEDC, organized a contest entitled “My chance to become an entrepreneur” aimed at stimulating the creation of businesses in Wemotaci.

28 Jun 2019

L’équipe de Listuguj présentant son projet devant les Dragons.

Véronique Édé

Diversified and Promising Collective Entrepreneurial Projects

Eight teams participated in the StartUP Nations. This represents as many great collective projects run by young entrepreneurs from several communities. Following is an overview of the different projects.

28 Jun 2019

Véronique Édé

When First Nations Youth Are Especially Coveted by Collective Entrepreneurship

The second edition of StartUP Nations took place on May 23rd to the 25th at Concordia University, in Montreal. Forty or so young people, aged 15 to 35, representing seven First Nations and eight communities, gathered to acquire tools that will enable them to develop their projects of collective entrepreneurship.

28 Jun 2019

Véronique Édé

Social Economy : an Opportunity for First Nations Young People

Social economy groups together all the economic activities with a view to meeting the responsibility of a social mission and contributing to the general interest. It is not focused on financial profitability, but on the benefits it brings to the collectivity. Social economy enterprises offer products and services in innovative sectors, and as diverse as those offered in traditional enterprises.

28 Jun 2019

Quelques-uns des jeunes participant au projet Niona.

Marie-Christine Tremblay

Discovering Abenaki Culture Through Information Technologies

The Niona Project is related to exploring, living and transmitting Abenaki culture and First Nations in general by way of information technologies. It’s also a social project aimed at developing diverse skills among Abenaki youth between the ages of 12 and 17.

28 Jun 2019

Marie-Christine Tremblay

The July 2019 issue of the Nikan Bulletin is online!

The July 2019 issue of the Nikan bulletin, which focuses on the Wôlinak and Odanak communities, is available online.

01 Apr 2019

Marie-Christine Tremblay

Osekwan Minic : Traditional Processing of Blueberries, an Economic Project

In Wemotaci, Association Nikawi is the instigator of the Osekwan Minic project, whose aim is to increase economic independence for women, while enhancing their valuable know-how in the processing of wild blueberries.

01 Apr 2019

Marie-Christine Tremblay

Depanneur Wemok of Wemotaci

In July 2016, Réjeanne Petiquay and Jean-Guy Boivin opened Dépanneur Wemok Convenience Store in a former construction trailer, with 700 $ worth of products in inventory. Almost three years later, the business doubled its floor area and it now employs six persons, an incredible accomplishment, without any external financial support.

01 Apr 2019

Marie-Christine Tremblay

A variety of activities next to La Tuque

Club Odanak is an area of 45 km2 located within the traditional domain of the Atikamekw Nation, at approximately 20 minutes from La Tuque.

28 Mar 2019

Véronique Édé

Awastoki – 3D Technology Is Introduced to Aboriginal Communities

Awastoki est une jeune entreprise autochtone, basée à Wendake, spécialisée dans la création numérique 3D, notamment pour la visualisation architecturale ou médicale, les médias interactifs (jeux vidéo, réalité virtuelle et augmentée), ainsi que l’impression 3D matérielle.

28 Mar 2019

Marie-Christine Tremblay

Stimulating Entrepreneurship in First Nations Communities

More and more First Nations communities hold ‘entrepreneurial days’ to promote entrepreneurship as a career option and encourage new business start-ups.

28 Mar 2019

Marie-Christine Tremblay

An Agriculture Project Is Currently in Development in Opitciwan

As early as this summer, the population of Opitciwan will be able to grow its own vegetables or buy some at the grocery store, thanks to an exciting and promising project which is arousing a great deal of enthusiasm and hope in the Atikamekw community.

28 Mar 2019

Marie-Christine Tremblay

Developing Self-Esteem in Youth Through School Entrepreneurship

For some years now, special needs students of Wemotaci’s Nikanik Secondary School have had the opportunity to participate in a program called « Les deux lois de la réussite », (The two rules of success) which draws on the example of PCR (perseverance + competence = réussite (success) developed in the Algonquin community of Lac Simon. Following is an overview of this inspiring project.

28 Mar 2019

Marie-Christine Tremblay

A Brief Overview of Some of the Projects

Following is a brief overview of some of the projects due to be completed in a near future in Wemotaci.

28 Mar 2019

Marie-Christine Tremblay

The Manouane Sipi Project Will Finally Get Underway

On February 15 2019, an agreement for the purchase of electricity was signed with Hydro-Québec, thereby confirming the start of construction of the micro-hydro power plant, which will generate major economic spin-offs for the community of Wemotaci.

28 Mar 2019

Marie-Christine Tremblay

Structuring Is Essential to Enhancing Growth

Several economic development projects are on the way in the Atikamekw community of Wemotaci. This has been made possible, thanks to the renewed emphasis placed on this activity sector over the past few years, and to a major restructuring.

28 Mar 2019