About ABC
Aboriginal Business Canada (ABC) is an Indian and Northern Affairs Canada program that maximizes Aboriginal people’s participation in the economy through business development.
We do this by:
Working with Aboriginal
Entrepreneurs and Businesses
ABC provides support to Aboriginal entrepreneurs for a range of activities including business planning, start-up, expansion and marketing.
We provide eligible majority-owned Aboriginal enterprises with:
- financial assistance;
- business information and resource materials; and
- referrals to other possible sources of financing or business support.
We work with clients:
- of all Aboriginal heritage groups;
- on-reserve and off-reserve; and
- in urban, rural and remote areas.
Working with Aboriginal Financial Institutions
ABC works with a network of 54 Aboriginal Financial Institutions, including Aboriginal Capital Corporations, Aboriginal Community Futures Development Corporations and other Aboriginally-owned or controlled lending institutions.
These organizations act as developmental lenders (providing loans to enterprises that are not yet ready to secure business loans successfully from banks) and offer business advisory services.
Some of these organizations have diversified their operations and act as third-party delivery agents for the Aboriginal Business Canada program, primarily in rural and remote communities.
Conducting Research and Policy Analysis
ABC conducts Aboriginal economic research and policy analysis to ensure our suite of program priorities continue to meet the needs of our clientele. An example of this work is the Aboriginal Entrepreneurs Survey, which was conducted in partnership with Statistics Canada and other federal partners.
Working with the National Aboriginal Economic Development Board
ABC works closely with the National Aboriginal Economic Development Board (NAEDB), a private-sector body that provides advice to the Government of Canada on matters related to Aboriginal economic and business development.
The NAEDB also reviews and provides recommendations on proposals to ABC involving large investments, and guides the program in setting funding priorities.
Working with Other Partners
On an ongoing basis, ABC collaborates with federal partners in our approach to Aboriginal business development, including Industry Canada, Western Economic Diversification Canada, the Business Development Bank of Canada, and Statistics Canada.
ABC also works with a range of non-government partners on various initiatives. For example, we are currently conducting a two-year pilot project with Canadian Executive Services Organization (CESO) to deliver personalized mentoring services to our youth entrepreneur clients.
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