ABSN Alberta

Participants’ Views

In the interviews and focus groups conducted for this evaluation, participants provided a great deal of additional information about ABSN Alberta. The following sections summarizes this information.

Resource Provision

Participants indicated that the information provided by the ABSN program in Alberta is both useful and widely available, both in hardcopy and online. However, it can be difficult to disseminate information at times, particularly to remote locations that may not necessarily have Internet access. As well, the information available needs to be updated constantly in order to ensure that it is current and relevant, which takes time and money. Participants noted that:

I really utilized their library and a lot of literature, pretty much everything they had. And it’s really helped.

Just to this point, we haven’t had to use a lot of the resources from it, but I know it’s there and it’s a backbone for us.

I think that the numbers are growing, more and more a growing need for a lot more Aboriginal business, people are graduating, getting more involved.

We have core resources, handouts, etc but we lack resources for other things. The needs are changing demographically, the information won’t be good any more. We still have to get the resources out there and develop new guides but clients can’t use them if they don’t have the Internet. Some have phone hook-up which is no good for downloading documents. There are good resources, tools, presenters—it is just a matter of getting them out there.

Participants commented that education levels for Aboriginals are increasing, particularly among the urban population, although business literacy could be improved. Because the composition of the entrepreneurial audience is changing, so are the types of businesses in which they are interested. There is always a need for training and continuing education, regardless of other factors. For example:

One of the biggest challenges we have is that of business literacy.

The interest was always there but they didn’t know where to go. Our job is to keep up with the EDOs; they are always turning over and we have to train them.

Many entrepreneurs contact ABSN without any real sense of focus for what they would like to do, and ABSN can assist them in finding a definite direction. Multiple services are available to Aboriginal entrepreneurs and are the same as those provided to non-Aboriginal entrepreneurs as both groups of entrepreneurs are operating within the same market and require similar business information. Participants commented:

And coming back here keeps me more focused to get back and study a little bit and get back on track.

Our services to Aboriginals are pretty much the same as what they would be for anybody else walking through the door, so small business loans, business plan development, marketing.

Programming

ABSN sites in Alberta are meant to be welcoming environments where people can come to obtain credible business information. Although this information is the same that would be provided to non-Aboriginal entrepreneurs, the non-threatening, culturally-sensitive environment ABSN provides makes it more appropriate to Aboriginal entrepreneurs. For example:

Their business needs are the same [as everyone else’s], they have to have the same skills and knowledge. The trick is to set an environment where they will come. You have to be ready and comfortable to deal with Aboriginal entrepreneurs.

We’re always extremely welcoming in our office and certainly in our communities that to have this program, it opens a lot of doors for us, and these people feel much more at ease.

Most services are exclusionary—not for First Nations, or for on reserve, or for Métis. We are trying to create awareness about who provides services. Most service providers exclude 70% [a person view]. We are the only “status blind” service in the province.

In order to ensure that information is disseminated most effectively, ABSN Alberta has maintained that personal contact between service provider and client is especially important. The regional Coordinator’s name is widely recognized and respected. He also personalizes information before providing it to his clients in order to ensure that they are receiving the best possible information for their particular case. Specifically:

... whenever he’s up here on his tour visits, he’s received extremely well and he’s quite well known, surprisingly enough.

It is absolutely critical that you have a personal contact, knowing Aboriginal service needs, who the other providers are, being able to talk to clients.

ABSN Alberta employs technology such as their website and videoconferencing effectively in order to disseminate information. However, there is still a need to increase access to technology throughout the province, particularly in remote areas. Participants pointed out that:

You know, if I hear of something happening that [the ABSN Coordinator] e-mails to me then I make sure that we make a point of you know utilizing some of the businesses that are there.

Yes, 26,000 web site visits. Three years ago that wouldn’t have happened. We have created a strong point of access for Aboriginals.

... interestingly, they all have videoconferencing… this is a fabulous tool for us.

I have to be closer to the partners out there and be able to network information back and forth. Maybe the videoconference equipment will help.

User Characteristics

The evolution of attitudes among Aboriginal people has led to increased empowerment and a sense of independence, which is necessary in order to conduct business effectively. By encouraging the development and growth of a sense of empowerment among Aboriginal entrepreneurs, participants believed that the ABSN program in Alberta also fosters the development and growth of their businesses. Specifically:

So because of that particular (I’m trying to think of the word here) dependency, then your own self-esteem and motivation is not as it would be in the non-Aboriginal society environment.

We are seeing more of an evolution. Five years ago the attitude [that] was prevalent on reserve, “You have to deal with me”; now they are more independent and there is a real desire to be in business. More have confidence, vision and the desire, because of schooling, greater awareness of the world, more support in the community to view success in entrepreneurism.

Not only does ABSN Alberta provide services to entrepreneurs attempting to start new businesses, it also assists entrepreneurs in maintaining their new businesses and eventually expanding them. This is an important service, as many resources and supports are available for new entrepreneurs, but it can be much more difficult to find help with the maintenance or expansion of a business. Some examples of comments include:

... it’s great to find somebody a job and the other part of it, the huger part of it, is the job maintenance. And it’s the same thing when it comes to starting your business, we all go out the shooting gate flying, but to maintain it is where the real work is.

We’ve actually had a number of Aboriginal businesses in the last year... to our program coming back, looking for expansion and taking their business international or adding additional stores and that kind of stuff.

They suggested that Aboriginal people are becoming increasingly integrated with non-Aboriginal society and while a difficult process, it is occurring nonetheless. The ABSN program in Alberta has taken this into consideration in providing its services and has focused on supplying business information that is not necessarily specific to Aboriginals in order to facilitate the integration with non-Aboriginal society. Some examples of comments include:

I don’t know if the need itself is becoming greater, I think it was always there, but I think that a lot of the Aboriginal people are now coming more into the mainstream. There’s more and more of them that are looking at small business and entrepreneurship and recognizing what they can do. So whatever demographic you’re looking at, the fact is they’re just becoming mainstream now so we’re seeing a lot more of them. They’re not sort of looking within their own programs all the time either, so I think now within our organization is just starting to see.

... to step out into the non Aboriginal community, which is part of their market as well, that’s a big step for them.

Aboriginal youth are displaying a great deal of interest in entrepreneurship and participants recommended that ABSN should continue to encourage this interest by developing a presence in schools and providing direction for young potential entrepreneurs. They indicated that by planting a seed now, ABSN could better serve a whole new generation of clients. Participants noted that:

There’s a big interest with young people. I was really shocked, it was really good to see, you know what I mean.

To do a similar project aimed specifically at Aboriginal youth I think would be effective.

And I know it’s really hard on young people to decide what they’re going to be when they grow up, but I think that at some point, that seed needs to be planted way back, way back in their early years, so that they can start thinking and planning their career and their educational goals.

… it’s amazing that the young people that come up and they do want to do business, but they just really don’t know where to go, and they’re quite lost. So I think that there needs to be some direction provided at a very young age.

Community Factors

Participants reported that ABSN Alberta has consciously attempted to be neutral to culture and be sensitive to the varying needs and contexts experienced by Aboriginal entrepreneurs both on- and off-reserve. In order to accomplish this goal, ABSN staff and partners are reaching out to remote communities, providing cultural sensitivity training for service providers, and educating both communities and individuals in business literacy. For example:

The only difference is, since we became a satellite office for the ABSN, we now actually do annual visits out to each of the Aboriginal communities, whether they be Métis or First Nations, and we do individual workshops out there.

I think some of the education has to be provided to the Aboriginal communities themselves...

We don’t understand the separate needs that they might have in their communities or the lack of services that they might have in their communities or the lack of information, so having something specifically designed for them, then they begin to understand that some of those things have been recognized. And they really appreciate that.

We have done cultural awareness training for other organizations.

Networking

Participants indicated that there is a need for increased network development by Aboriginal entrepreneurs. Although networks are starting to form, the process is by no means complete. The conferences held by ABSN Alberta are a good first step and were of high quality. However, conferences in general are expensive to hold and attend, particularly from the perspective of a small business owner, and it can be difficult to advertise to the appropriate audience. Some examples of comments include:

And it’s unfortunate, because I know our business would grow if we had the proper contacts. And so we have to work kind of on our own, personal selling and so on to try and grow our business.

But a lot of the conferences are so expensive, you know, if you want to put an exhibit up or be one of the conference people to go there. As a small business owner, you know, that’s no good.

This year they had two Aboriginal conferences. One was the “All about Opportunities” conference, an Aboriginal event for Aboriginal entrepreneurs; 185 people attended. The second conference was for people mostly from outside Edmonton; 175 attended. Both were really highly rated.

Like individuals, organizations need to build their networks. ABSN Alberta has provided organizations with a link through which they can continue to build these networks and be aware of what other organizations are doing. Participants indicated that there is some desire to see increased networking between ABSN organizations across the four Western provinces. For example:

I think if nothing else, ABSN has certainly provided that link between the service providers.

... with ABSN, they’ve been able to continue to maintain that communication link for us, and make sure that we know who each other are and then can share that information and do cross-referrals and those kinds of things.

There is no ABSN inter-provincial network any more.

Issues

Participants identified several issues related to Aboriginal entrepreneurship and the ABSN program in Alberta. Issues facing individual entrepreneurs include a lack of funding, unrealistic attitudes, and the misuse of consultants (who were reported to have overcharged for business plan development services).

Funding

Typically, a significant amount of money is needed to start a business. Although the money may be available in theory, it can be very difficult for entrepreneurs to obtain the necessary capital to start their business. Further, once the business is established, its financial situation must be continually monitored in order to ensure that the limited amount of money is being spent in the most effective manner. In addition, Aboriginal entrepreneurs have some unrealistic perceptions and expectations about self-employment, which can make starting a business more difficult unless entrepreneurs are educated about the realities of self-employment. Some Aboriginal entrepreneurs and communities have used consultants in order to improve their businesses, however the expense does not always provide much benefit for the price. These consultants do not, in general, take context into account when providing their services, particularly to on-reserve businesses. Participants pointed out:

Well, you know, it’s very costly to get a business up and running right off the bat, you know, with all your hookups and your rent and your deposits and like in the WCB, you’ve got to get in, and your insurance and insurance is really expensive.

I had good credit, that’s the thing. I had a thirty-five thousand dollar line of credit going in and had all my equipment and everything, and they wouldn’t touch me.

I thought I was going to be a millionaire in six months... You won’t be a millionaire right away or even make any money for the first couple years.

... there seems to be a general lack of experience and knowledge going into it, that they have a great idea, but they’ve never worked in it and they don’t really know how they’re going to implement it.

... the entrepreneurs that come to us are relying very heavily on outside consultants. And we see that time and time again. And they’re paying huge dollars to consultants.

Yeah, in many cases, thousands of dollars and the consultant has no idea even where that person’s community is, let alone what their needs might be or how their business might fit into that community. An abuse, actually.

Awareness

Services cannot be provided effectively if the intended audience is not aware that they are available. There is some awareness among Aboriginal people of the services provided by the ABSN program in Alberta, but there is not necessarily any recognition that the services are provided by ABSN. Specifically:

... they don’t know that it’s ABSN. And I don’t know that they care, for that matter. They really don’t. They just know that the services are there, that the opportunities are there, and that the information’s there. They really couldn’t care who provides it.

Stability

ABSN Alberta reports that they obtain program funding from a number of different, unnamed sources and because of this, the program is more creative and flexible in the services provided. However, increased funding is still necessary in order to improve service. Participants noted that:

The money comes to us through a non-profit and we are not restricted by government bureaucracy. We can be more creative and responsive.

We need to continue core funding for the program, to also have project and joint initiative funding to be matched with other funders that we could be aligned with.

Additional factors limiting ABSN Alberta’s ability to provide service most effectively include a lack of marketing and some hesitation by businesses to use the available services.

Suggestions for the Future

Participants in the focus groups and interviews provided a number of suggestions to improve ABSN Alberta. Some suggestions related to continuing aspects of the current program, in particular, ABSN should continue to assist clients in focusing their goals, provide services to Aboriginal entrepreneurs that aid their integration into the non-Aboriginal business environment, promote empowerment, work with Aboriginal youth, serve both new and growing businesses, and maintain networks between organizations. The non-threatening, culturally appropriate environment provided by ABSN Alberta has proved to be beneficial to service provision and the emphasis on the importance of a personal relationship between client and service provider, and customized information also increases the comfort level of clients. These aspects of the current program are critical to the provision of excellent service and should be continued in the future.

Other suggestions deal with specific needs or changes necessary to provide the best service possible and included:

Increased project funding over the long-term would permit the ABSN program in Alberta to provide stable, effective services.
The information provided by ABSN needs to be kept up to date and business literacy could be improved further.
Effort should be directed toward improving access to technology and increasing program awareness and name recognition.
The ABSN program in Alberta should focus on resolving issues faced by Aboriginal entrepreneurs.
There is a need for increased network development and while the conferences have been helpful in this regard, the format is not always appropriate for individual entrepreneurs.
Aboriginal entrepreneurs face a lack of funding, unrealistic attitudes, and misuse of consultants, and the ABSN program in Alberta could alleviate these problems by providing education and increased access to funding sources.
There is also a need to resolve issues faced by ABSN itself, such as a lack of resources, lack of marketing, and hesitation on the part of businesses to use the services offered.
Nationally, there is a need for increased networking between ABSN organizations in the four Western provinces.

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