Aboriginal Business Match draws First Nations and entrepreneurs

A local version of what appears to be a growing trend in connecting First Nations and businesses was held this week at the Civic Centre.

Representatives from a dozen First Nations and nearly 40 businesses gathered for an event called Aboriginal Business Match.

For two days, 20 minutes at a time, they sat down one-on-one to seek ways to help each other in what could also be described as a dating service for entrepreneurs.

Either way, Giles Newman of BDO Canada, a major sponsor of the events which are being held across Canada, has become a believer.

"Globally, it's the only process committed to getting businesses and aboriginal communities aligned and to get them in a room where they actually talk business to each other," Newman said.

"We've looked at number of similar type organizations across not only Canada but North America as well and this is the one that stood out for us as the one where people come ready to do business.

"That deals can literally be done on the floor of the convention rather than take months to be done because there are immediate problems that people have to solve from an industry-business perspective and from a First Nations perspective."

The type of businesses they attract depend on the local development opportunities. In this region, those related to mining and liquified natural gas, such as camp services and construction, were dominant.

"Sort of the more remote, large-scale natural resource extraction," Newman said.

As they move towards self-sufficiency, First Nations present plenty of untapped potential in Newman's opinion.

"In the next generation, First Nations will be front and centre in terms of anything to do with economic development...it is as fundamental as that," Newman said.

The event in Prince George was relatively small compared to one held in Penticton earlier this year. But it appeared to be larger than the last one held in Prince George in 2012 and Newman hopes it will continue to grow in the years ahead.

"The great thing is that there are a number of local businesses here who are here for the first time and are having a positive experience so next time, hopefully, there will be an event that's proportionately bigger," Newman said.