Doing Business With Aboriginal Peoples
It’s an interesting time to be contemplating business ventures in Canada that include Aboriginal peoples. Technology advances have brought the internet to all but the most remote of Aboriginal communities, resulting in a knowledge of the outside world that didn’t exist even a couple of decades ago. That’s been a game changer; access to information is a powerful and transformative force. Along with that comes the awareness of the outside world of the traditional way of life of First Nations, Métis and Inuit people and their rights to access and use of their territories. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and subsequent Supreme Court decisions, ensure that development of industrial projects in Canada must now involve affected Aboriginal peoples.
Two of the main reasons you may find yourself wanting to do business with Aboriginal people are: 1) involvement with a large project on “Crown Land†like a resource extraction project; or, 2) planning a business venture in an area near to Aboriginal communities. In these cases (and there are many more) you would be well advised to embark on your interaction with Aboriginal people with care and respect. An experienced Aboriginal Business Consultant can help you plan your approach and interactions to maximize opportunities, minimize delays and avoid mistakes.
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