Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business Studies

The Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal

Business Studies promotes interest among

Canada’s Aboriginal people in the study of

business at the post-secondary level, while

undertaking pure and applied research specific

to Aboriginal communities.  

Why Business?

Chief Terry Paul summarized the importance of

recruiting young Aboriginals to the study of business as:

“This must be our future!

Self reliance and self governance

will only come with economic

independence and the foundation

for this is the study of business.”

Career Opportunities in Business

Can you imagine yourself working in...

If the answer is YES, we have what you are looking for!

Economic Development

Program Management

Cultural Tourism

Accounting

Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business Studies

“The Chair” is focusing its work in four areas:

1. Research to identify “best business practices” in

Aboriginal communities

2. National student recruitment for the study of

Business in Canadian universities

3. Enhancement of the Business curriculum to

support expanded access

Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business Studies

“The Chair” is focusing its work in four areas:

4. Mentorship of youth

a) potential business students

b) those currently studying business in

post-secondary

Aboriginal Context – Canada

• Population of Canada = over 35 million, 8% growth rate (Statistics Canada, 2013)

• Land Mass = just under 10 million square km.• Aboriginal Population =1.4 million, 45% growth rate• Aboriginal (Constitution Act, 1982) Includes:

• 700k First Nations • 390k Metis• 50k Inuit

Source: http://www41.statcan.gc.ca/2008/4017_3119/grafx/htm/ceb4017_3119_000_1-eng.htm

Rural = Aboriginal

• http://www8.hrsdc.gc.ca/general/membre-member/imt-lmi/bmta-almb-eng.asp

Business Trends

• Canada’s leading industries• Agriculture, Energy (Oil, Hydro Electric), Technology,

Services (retail, health, education, tourism), Manufacturing• Changing Demographics

• Aging non-aboriginal work force • Growing aboriginal youth population

• In the News• Resources in rural areas, conflict between resource

extraction companies and Aboriginal communities

Need for Education

• One-quarter of non-Aboriginal adults had a university degree, compared to 9% of Métis, 7% of First Nations people and 4% of Inuit.

• In 2006, one-third (33%) of Aboriginal adults aged 25 to 54 had less than a high school education compared to nearly 13% of the non-Aboriginal population, a difference of 20 percentage points.

Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business Studies

Why should Aboriginal People study Business?

• Employment• Entrepreneurship• Empowerment• End to Poverty• Ensuring the Future

2012 Regional Student Roundtables

What current students say?

• Education effort must be as inclusive and representative as possible.

• Must target youth• Must respect heritage, historical legacies, include

legal and political context, and be broadly inclusive of business concepts.

• Excite and engage students. They must be active participants and their opinions have to matter.

Findings – Student feedback

What needs to be sustained:• Traditional Knowledge • Inclusive Approaches• Self Determination • Health and Well-being • Community Pride

What needs to be supported:

• Need for Aboriginal content in business education

• Issues of proximity and need for support structures

• Need for more knowledge regarding funding options

• Need for better university preparation

Findings – Student Feedback

Aboriginal Youth Mentorship Programme

Business Network for Aboriginal Youth

• Mentorship program targeting Aboriginal high school students from

Nova Scotia.

• Attract students to the study of Business.

• Aims to enrich the lives of Aboriginal secondary students by helping to

manage the transition from high school to university business

education.

• Aboriginal role models/mentors.

Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business StudiesBusiness Network for Aboriginal Youth

What is the Business Network for Aboriginal Youth?• A mentorship program to increase interest in the

study of business at university.

Who can apply?• Any Aboriginal student in grades 10-12 in Nova

Scotia that is interested in business.

Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business StudiesBusiness Network for Aboriginal Youth

What’s in it for students?•Discover the countless number of business opportunities using social media networks via BlackBerry technology.• Be part of a virtual community of Aboriginal students who share the same interests using:

Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business StudiesBusiness Network for Aboriginal Youth

What’s in it for students?

•Travel to other communities to participate in youth business gatherings

•Learn from the best Aboriginal business mentors and elders from all across Nova Scotia

• Students are required to participate in bi-weekly challenges created by their mentor.

• Challenges are submitted via social media.

• Two gatherings in community

• Introduction – Mentors, students, administration, the program components

• final gathering – “Graudation”• Each student prepares a short video “pitch” • The top 2 videos will be given awards.

Business Network for Aboriginal Youth

Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business StudiesBusiness Network for Aboriginal Youth

Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business StudiesBusiness Network for Aboriginal Youth

Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business StudiesBusiness Network for Aboriginal Youth

Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business StudiesBusiness Network for Aboriginal Youth

Stay connected with the Business Network for Aboriginal Youth

Twitter: @CBU_Aboriginal

Like our Facebook Page: “Business Network for Aboriginal Youth”

www.cbu.ca/crawford

Meet the students

Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business StudiesBusiness Network for Aboriginal Youth

What is the model:• Linking students and mentors• One on one meetings – Technology: Balance• Student Mentor Ratio• Clearly defined expectation (roles, timelines,

boundaries)• Dedicated staff

Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business StudiesBusiness Network for Aboriginal Youth

Best practices • Must have in person meetings• Meet them in their comfort zone• Thoughtful selection of mentors• Integrating culture can be challenging but critical• Connectivity and travel can be costly • Make it fun!

Follow us

• On the web: www.cbu.ca/crawford • Blogs: www.cbu.ca/groundbreaking• Twitter: @CBU_Aboriginal

@Dr_Janice_Tulk• Facebook: Canadian Aboriginal Business Network

https://www.facebook.com/groups/125163437590903/• YouTube Channel

www.youtube.com/user/PurdyCrawfordChair

Wela’lioq , Thank youwww.cbu.ca/crawford