business NEWSLETTER

2022 · volume 1

President's Message

Boozhoo, members!

We hope you enjoyed the winter break and the first months of the new year. 2022 has been a cold and snowy start here in the northwest, and we’re beginning to look forward to the beginning of Ziigwan, or Spring, in only a few short weeks.

With Ontario lifting some public health restrictions as of March 1st, it looks as though many businesses may be able to increase their capacities again, though still remaining masked indoors. While we still of course encourage all our members and network to prioritize their own health as well as the health of their clients and communities, this is an affirming step towards renewed economic activity and recovery.

We are still seeking a new team member to assist us with managing our growing network and ongoing events and communications, and we are very pleased to share that we have the support of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation to provide a contract to an Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, or Metis) individual for the role. You can see the details below, or share the posting at https://abpa.live/hiring.

We look forward to another year connecting with and expanding this network of Anishnaabe professionals, businesses, and communities!

Chi-Miigwetch,


Jason

MEMBER PROFILE

IPM Integrated Project Management has over 25 years of progressive consulting and employment experience in supporting Technical Service companies in areas including process improvement, planning and management, project management, business development, general administration and contracts management as well as Stakeholder consultations and Change Management through Business process re-engineering. Debra Donovan, PMP, P2RP, brings a unique breadth of experience across the financial, Oil & Gas, Utilities, Mining and Construction sectors. You can visit their site for more details, or to reach out to Debra directly to learn how IPM can assist your organization to manage a project, provide training, or research, analyze and provide actionable strategies for you to meet your goals.

In the community

To bring awareness to our new online hotel booking tool, Indigeno Travel would like to offer our fellow ABPA members a gift!

Simply scan the QR code above or follow the link below to register, and receive a $50 USD credit, good in over 500,000 hotels in 160 countries. 

It’s as good as cash! You can share the flyer to family, friends, colleagues, and pretty much anyone you like. Each registration gets the signor the same $50 credit! 

When your credit has been used, please continue to use IndigenoHotels for business meetings and hotel stays. The Meetings tool functions like a tender; each hotel in any given city knows it’s in line for the business, which drives down the costs for meetings.

Also, Indigeno Travel is pleased to tell our fellow members that we have expanded our Indigenous ownership.

Since the outset of Indigeno, our Indigenous investors included Tribal Councils Investment Group, promoting the collective interests of all seven Tribal Councils in Manitoba, representing 55 First Nations. In February of 2022, Indigeno added Treaty One Development Corporation to our ownership group. Best known in Canada for currently developing the former Kapyong Barracks, now renamed Naawi Oodena, as the soon-to-be largest urban reserve in the country, Treaty 1 includes seven First Nations in Southern Manitoba. 

In keeping with Indigeno’s goal to expand our Indigenous ownership across Canada, we have been making in-roads and finding interested First Nations in nearly every province and territory. Please pass along Indigeno’s interest to partner with communities throughout your connections.

Travel safely, everyone!

The Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce has a call for nominations out for the 2022 Business Excellence Awards! This year’s Excellence Awards presented by Bell, and you can nominate a business or non-profit and celebrate entrepreneurship in under 3 minutes. Use the button below to make a nomination today or to review the award category criteria.

Save the Date

Unpacking the Entrepreneurial Advantage | Wednesday, April 6th 12:30PM – 2:00PM EST

Join Carey Calder, Founder of Nakanagis Consulting for a conversation about the governance and financial considerations for existing (and aspiring) Indigenous entrepreneurs and businesses.

Gain a clearer understanding of options and tax implications where you are pursuing contracts as a sole proprietor or incorporated businesses.

This will be an open dialogue format and participants will have the opportunity to ask questions in advance as part of registration, as well as a live Q&A session during the virtual panel.

Opportunities

We are accepting resumes for a new role! 

The successful candidate for our Membership Engagement Intern will help our growing organization to maintain and develop our membership base, facilitate events and projects, and provide support to our Board of Directors. 

This role calls for excellent communication skills, project or program facilitation experience, and willingness to work alongside diverse professionals and organizations. 

This is a NOHFC funded opportunity, and the applicant must be an Indigenous resident of Northwestern Ontario (including First Nation, Metis, or Inuit).

Thunder Bay CEDC | The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission is looking for new members for it’s board of directors for a four-year term beginning in the Fall of 2022. The CEDC Board of Directors is represented by a diverse group of individuals, who bring their respective experiences, interest, and ideas together to shape and support the Corporation’s strategic and policy direction.

If you are interested in putting your vision, talents and skills to work in supporting the
economic vibrancy of Thunder Bay, please click the image below for application details.

Do you have upcoming news, events, or something to share with the network? Email us for inclusion in the next newsletter.

Benefits of your membership

We provide information sessions and networking events targeting relevant topics and projects for business expansion in Northern Ontario.

We develop best practices for major First Nations development projects and non-First Nations businesses related to procurement policies and human resource polices focused on inclusion.

Members will be the first to know about special discounts on all events and access to new programs for doing business in Northern Ontario

Members will have better access to economic buyers and key decision makers in Northern Ontario through our business directory and special events and conferences.

We Need to hear from you.

Are there topics or areas of interest that you want to learn more about?

Do you know an Indigenous professional who you think our members should hear from?  

What do you want to see from your ABPA membership?

We try to keep an ear to the ground, but Indigenous enterprise is a thriving, growing economy, and there’s always new voices to hear and new faces to see.

 If there is something or someone you would want to see in a seminar, workshop, or networking event, we invite you to get in touch. Feel welcome to pitch us a topic, nominate a speaker, or simply tell us what’s important to you. Let us know…

Sponsor an ABPA Newsletter Today

Would you like to see your name and logo featured for our Anishnawbe Business Professionals community? Sponsor our newsletter. Your name, logo, description of services and contact information will be distributed to our membership and all our social media channels. If your Business or Organization would like to sponsor a future Newsletter, reach out to us at info@anishnawbebusiness.com.

Ch-Miigwetch for your support for Indigenous Business!

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