Economic development in First Nations

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN FIRST NATIONS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The extent to which First Nations communities and individuals are actively participating in Canadian economic life to the best of their potential is a serious public policy question. [...] The interviews clearly point to an emerging spirit of optimism and commitment within First Nations to discard the shackles of dependency and return to a culture of self sufficiency. [...] For economic development to take hold, this research suggests that First Nations need a new institutional paradigm that removes the burden of virtual complete responsibility for the First Nations economy from Chief and Councils to one where First Nation governments establish the parameters for supporting economic activity within their territories and nourish the emerging spirit of entrepreneurship [...] ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN FIRST NATIONS PREFACE The extent to which First Nations communities and individuals are actively participating in Canadian economic life to the best of their potential is a serious public policy question. [...] The frustrations of the marketplace and the public sector over their collective inability to fully energize First Nations economic development must be considered in the context of the First Nations’ view of economic development.