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The First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Economic Development Commission (FNQLEDC) is proud to continue stimulating entrepreneurship among First Nations members. To this end, the FNQLEDC is launching a third edition of the Nikanewin bursaries, which will be awarded to people with a business project to encourage them and help them move beyond the ideas to actions.

During my visit to Mistissini last November, I met a dozen entrepreneurs who shared their experiences, their contributions to the community, how they started their entrepreneurial journeys and where the idea of being their own boss came from. The following is a summary of my encounters.

From November 14 to 16, 2022, it was the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region’s turn to hold a Regional Economic Circle.

This is how the new business in the community of Wendake draws our attention to its new multifunctional training centre.

MusiqueNature is a non-profit organization (NPO) that develops, promotes and enhances events that combine nature and musical performances. The following is a portrait of this artistic company that also happens to be one of the recipients of the second edition of the Nikanewin Bursaries, which are awarded by the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Economic Development Commission (FNQLEDC).

The Innu community of Mashteuiatsh hosted a First Nations Regional Economic Circle on June 15 and 16, 2022. This was the very first event stemming from the Grand Economic Circle of Indigenous People and Quebec, which was held last November in Montreal.

The First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Economic Development Commission (FNQLEDC) is proud to support the Nikanewin Bursaries initiative. This bursary is offered specifically to members of the First Nations in Quebec who have a business project in mind and are looking to take action.

An enterprising Mohawk couple from Kahnawake have the wind in their sails because they dared to go into business by sharing their passion for cooking.

In 2022, the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Economic Development Commission (FNQLEDC) is proud to continue stimulating entrepreneurship among First Nations members. To this end, the FNQLEDC is launching a new edition of the Nikanewin bursaries, which will be awarded to people with a business project to encourage them and help them move beyond the ideas to actions.

The Indigenous Tourism Quebec Recognition Gala allowed, on the one hand, to award eight awards to players in the Indigenous tourism industry and, on the other, to mark the 30th anniversary of Indigenous Tourism Quebec (ITQ).

The Grand Economic Circle of Indigenous Peoples and Quebec, which took place on November 25 and 26, 2021 in Montreal, was a great success. Here is a summary of the highlights of the event.

The First Nations of Québec and Labrador Economic Development Commission (FNQLEDC) is proud to announce the launch of its Indigenous business directory, entirely revised, with a new and simplified interface.

The program for the Grand Economic Circle of Indigenous People and Quebec, which will be held at the Centre Sheraton Montreal on November 25 and 26, 2021, is now unveiled.

As part of the Grand Economic Circle of Indigenous People and Quebec, which will take place on November 25 and 26, 2021, the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador, the Government of Quebec and the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Economic Development Commission (FNQLEDC) are launching a call for commitment.

The Assembly of First Nations of Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL) and the Government of Quebec are proud to present the Grand Economic Circle of Indigenous People and Quebec, an event that will take place on November 25 and 26, 2021, in person at the Centre Sheraton Montreal as well as online.

The Abenaki Aventure tourist project began with the opening of the campsite on the Odanak Abenaki community last July 29. This brilliant idea came from Martin O’Bomsawin and his two sons who have a strong entrepreneurial spirit.

The project of the Atikamekw community of Wemotaci aimed to build an inn featuring 22 rooms on its territory for 2021. With all the changes caused by the pandemic and the sharp increase in the costs of wood materials, they had to rethink the project and develop a plan B for the acquisition of accommodations at a lower cost.

Grandir Ensemble, an economic development project geared towards food self-sufficiency, came to life in Kanesatake last March. The project aims at achieving food self-sufficiency in the community and has a vision of internal and external reconciliation among community members.

In January 2020, Dolorès Bellefleur and Jean-Michel Perron, owners of the Innuberge, in the company of the Director of the Société de développement économique et touristique Mukutan, Lionel Hervieux, as well as the whole community of Unamen Shipu, inaugurated this wonderful tourist accommodation project located on the Innu Unamen Shipu territory.

The First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Economic Development Commission (FNQLEDC) is proud to unveil the names of the ten Nikanewin Bursaries 2021 winners, who are sharing a total of $30,000 in bursaries. The main objective of these bursaries was to encourage as many First Nations people with a business plan as possible to move from the idea stage to the action stage.

The Micmac Nation of Gespeg is entering the maple syrup industry. In operation since the spring of 2021, the state-of-the-art sugar bush will allow the Nation to produce and sell maple syrup locally.

On April 8, 2021, a Northern incubator-accelerator was launched in support of the development of tourist projects north of the 49th parallel. Mr. Dave Laveau, Executive Director of Indigenous Tourism Québec, answers our questions about this major project.

As of next June, the marina built by Kebaowek First Nation, an Algonquin community in the south of Temiscamingue, will be open for you to discover, as announced with great pride by local economic development officer, Mr. Justin Roy.

The next application deadline for Natural Resources Canada's Indigenous Forestry Initiative (IFI) is Thursday, August 20, 2020. Applications received should be assessed during the month of September so that selected projects can be announced by the end of October 2020.

The Nikanewin bursaries aim to stimulate private entrepreneurship among First Nations members by supporting people with a business project in order to encourage and help them move from ideas to action.

A business center is currently under construction in Wemotaci. This center, which should open its doors very soon, will facilitate the creation of businesses in the community, notably by providing them with a range of shared services, as well as personalized support.

On February 11 and 23, 2021, the Assembly of First Nations Québec-Labrador (AFNQL) facilitated two virtual roundtables with the theme “Economic development as a safeguard against racism and discrimination toward the First Nations”. Following is a summary of the highlights from these roundtables.

In the summer of 2021, a wood processing plant will begin operations in the community of Wemotaci, a project made possible by investments of $1.3 million from the Conseil des Atikamekw de Wemotaci (CAW) and Indigenous Services Canada.

Under the banner “Success is shared! Dare to mentor!”, the Société de développement économique Ilnu (SDEI) is adding a mentoring program to its service offering. Initiated by Ms. Louise Bergeron, Director of Business and Financial Services, the unit was created in 2017. Ms. Bergeron then called on Réseau M to offer a structured program to entrepreneurs in her community.

In Kanesatake, what was supposed to be an economic development project aimed at selling vegetables has finally become a social initiative, The Gardens of Hope project.

On March 3rd, Groupe Aishkatsh of Mashteuiatsh announced the start-up of a new forestry division which will help create many jobs.

On February 12 and 13 2020, the 3rd edition of Expo Entrepreneurs took place at Place Bonaventure in Montreal. This event, which gathered thousands of entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship support organizations and experts, aimed at stimulating entrepreneurship in Quebec.

From January 21 to 23, 2020, representatives of several First Nation organizations and communities across Canada gathered in Wendake to participate in a discussion in connection with the launching of the report entitled Linking Indigenous Communities to Regional Development Project. This report, produced by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), is the result of close to three years of consultations.

In operation for 35 years now in the Mohawk community of Kanesatake, First Nations Paramedics is the only Indigenous private business offering ambulance service in Quebec. Here is the inspiring story of this company that would like to share its expertise with other Indigenous communities in Quebec.

Kanesatake, a community located in the beautiful Laurentians region, is surrounded by farmlands, orchards and beautiful sceneries. Therefore, the Economic development team would like to develop projects that will allow the community to build on these advantages.

In the Mohawk community of Kanesatake, there are currently 18 private businesses. Following is an overview of the initiatives put in place by the economic development team to promote entrepreneurship and provide support for local entrepreneurs.

The Anicinabe Gasini gas station of Lac Simon is in operation since January 21 2020. However, its official opening will only take place on February 13 2020. This project was made possible thanks to the hard work of the elected officials of the Anishnabe community and the Director of the Corporation de développement économique Wabak Pimadizi, Mr. William Cheezo.

For the past few years, a new kind of activity, speed business networking or speed-meeting, has become increasingly popular in the business world. This formula facilitates the development of businesses, by way of meetings limited to 15 minutes. In fact, the FNQLEDC tried out this formula at an event held this past November 19th, in Quebec City.

The Mi'gmaq community of Listuguj is located on the banks of the Restigouche River, in the beautiful Gaspésie region. Things are going quite well in terms of entrepreneurship, since there are about fifty private companies that are active in various sectors. In addition to entrepreneurship, the economic development team is busy working on several projects. Here are a few of them.

On September 10th and 11th 2019, Listuguj held the first edition of its Economic Development Symposium. The event was organized by the Economic Development Department, with the objective of stimulating and fostering private entrepreneurship in the community.

Since 2016, the Listuguj Mi'gmaq Government has been a shareholder of Zenabis Global Inc., which has cannabis production facilities that are located near the community. Before making the decision to invest in this industry, several steps were taken which are covered in this article.

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.

The Micmacs of Gesgapegiag purchased the Chalets de l'Anse Ste-Hélène in September 2017. Located on the outskirts of the Baie-des-Chaleurs (Chaleur Bay), the property includes six chalets, all of which were built in the early 2000s, and is located in Maria, just outside the boundaries of the Mi'gmaq community. This acquisition allowed the community to create five to six jobs for its members.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.