Victoria Learning Circle
May 15th, 2009 Notes
Question 1: What assets does the Victoria urban Aboriginal community bring to economic development?
The group began by exploring the various strengths of the urban Aboriginal community in Victoria.
These strengths include a rich Aboriginal culture that includes a variety of artistic talents, an established tourism industry, strong training facilities that offer a wide breadth of programs to the Aboriginal population, easy access to financially literate individuals and business plans and an alternative community in Victoria that supports and appreciates local business.
Other strengths noted were the robust organic gardening movement and an interest in alternative spiritual and healing practices that draw upon Aboriginal knowledge. The group viewed many of these strengths as potential starting points to an entrepreneurial pursuit.
Question 2: What challenges does the community face in developing its economy?
The next round of discussion concentrated on challenges in the community for entrepreneurs. The group’s main focus was on the lack of funding and access to resources for Aboriginal entrepreneurs that wish to start up a business. The general feeling was that a lack of knowledge about resources was the main problem with regards to accessing funding, business plans, and aid for keeping a business running.
A problem that was specific to Victoria is that the community can be very insular, and does not readily accept new entrepreneurs. Another issue specific to Victoria was the sense that there is a lack of space or tools to create goods to sell, which may stem from being isolated from other entrepreneurs. This isolation also lends to a lack of motivation for self-employment and fear of the risk that this type of venture holds.
Other challenges faced by Aboriginal entrepreneurs in Victoria include the problem of high staff turnover, the difficulties of transitioning from reserve to city life, being caught in the ‘welfare trap’, and drug/alcohol dependence problems.
Finally, the group noted that ‘post-secondary’ education in high schools, colleges and universities that does not promote business ownership is often privileged over ‘traditional’ education or knowledge that may lend itself better to entrepreneurship.
Potential Businesses and Collective Projects
After brainstorming different resources within the community, the group began to focus on different business ideas ...
Once participants had discussed the assets, resources, and challenges facing Aboriginal community members, they group turned their attention to identifying different business ideas.
Aboriginal food was a highlight of the discussion, with the idea of partnering with a local restaurant to offer an Aboriginal menu.This would be most viable during touristseason, but could eventually evolve into an Aboriginal restaurant.
Other ideas included holding a fundraiser for local entrepreneurs, and starting up an Aboriginal business network in Victoria. The group felt that such a network would begin to address some of the challenges in the community, while drawing upon the various strengths through providing a way for entrepreneurs to link up with one another. The point of such a network would be to provide mentors and role models for youth, as well as support and resources for early stage entrepreneurs.
It was agreed upon that next meeting should be focused on trying to develop one of these ideas further. Upon closing, the group agreed to meet in three weeks time.