Asokan Business Interiors Inc.

Aboriginal suppliers are becoming increasingly more competitive on the set-aside opportunities provided through the PSAB. This is very much the case when it comes to desktop microcomputer systems, office furniture, and office related products.

Under the PSAB initiative, Asokan Business Interiors has become a consistent and respected supplier to the Federal Government, as reflected by the number of contracts and standing offers awarded to Asokan for their products and services. Some of their satisfied clients include Canadian Heritage, Transport Canada and Environment Canada.

Established in early 2003 by André Clément, an Aboriginal of the Algonquin tribe in Maniwaki, Québec, Asokan Business Interiors is the region's fastest growing Canadian Aboriginal contract furniture and design company. Asokan is a full service dealership, enabling clients to make informed decisions on a full range of products, from panel systems to freestanding desks, seating, filing, ergonomic accessories, micro-computers, laptops, PDAs, computer peripherals, LAN and WAN networking equipment.

Asokan means, “bridge,” and Mr. Clement’s goal is for Asokan to form a strong link between the Aboriginal community and the various procurement groups within the Government of Canada. While Mr. Clément is the company’s majority shareholder, he is not alone in this venture. The minority shareholders and Mr. Clément’s business partners are the owners of Advanced Business Interiors (ABI), an Ottawa-based office furnishings dealer. This provides Asokan with the backing to remain a stable and well-established supplier.

Initially, large US furniture companies, like Haworth Office Furniture, were not required to meet Canadian content restrictions on furniture set-asides. As such, Aboriginal suppliers found it very difficult to crack the market. With the urging of PSAB officials, Canadian content requirements were implemented. This resulted in Haworth setting up production in Canada and associating themselves with Asokan as their Aboriginal re-seller. Today, Haworth is not only the prime manufacturer for Asokan’s interconnecting panel systems, one of their latest products now available on standing offer, but many of the other furniture related products that Asokan markets.

Asokan has the products and solutions with an understanding of the service and quality that customers expect.

You can see their full range of products and services, many which are available through PWGSC’s National Master Standing Offers, by visiting the Asokan website

NAKODA (Assiniboines)

The Great Sioux Nation is made up of three divisions of language dialects. The Santee people speak Dakota, the Yankton people use Nakota and the Teton speak Lakota. The words Dakota, Nakota and Lakota all mean “friend” or “ally”. The Nakoda were comprised of two distinct divisions - the Plains and the Western (Mountain and Woods), who had limited contacts with each other.

This Aboriginal group of people, native to the land what is now known as Saskatchewan, were called the Assiniboines people. Originally Yankton Sioux, they broke away in the 17th century and thereafter associated largely with the Cree. Nomadic hunters, they dwelled in transportable tipi as they followed the plains bison. Sometimes, villages had as many as 200 tipis, set up in a circle or if many, concentric circles. Some tipis were as large as 30 feet in diameter, housing extended families or more than one family. In the winter they hunted deer, elk and bighorn sheep from an established camp, but in the spring they gathered on the open plains to prepare for the annual summer buffalo hunts. These gatherings allowed for strategy sessions and communal ceremonies to ensure a good hunt. The buffalo was their life, providing the primary food, clothing and shelter. To supplement the buffalo, women often made pemmican (buffalo, fat and dried berries), gathered plants, nuts and berries and even engaged in some horticulture.

At the time of first contact with Europeans, the Assiniboines were a very large and influential tribe, however by the early 19th century they were decimated by smallpox. Today the Nakoda people, numbering perhaps 4,000 in Canada and 1,000 in Montana, are a very dispersed group and are scattered on reserve lands in Saskatchewan and Alberta.

SPOTLIGHT ON STANDING OFFERS

This is the first in our new “Spotlight” series of special features focussing on Aboriginal suppliers having a standing offer or supply arrangement within a particular category of the Standing Offer Index (SOI), maintained by Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC).

The SOI contains all National and Regional Master Standing Offers and Supply Arrangements established by PWGSC with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal suppliers for over 150 categories of common goods and services; it was created to aid Canadian federal government departments and agencies in their purchasing activities.

Computers, desktop microcomputers systems and components.

The following table identifies the Aboriginal suppliers with whom an NMSO has been established in this category. These offers are in effect until September 29, 2005.

The products and services supplied by these Aboriginal suppliers are equivalent to those provided by non-Aboriginal suppliers and at competitive prices. When your next requirement for computers, desktop microcomputers systems and components arises, take into consideration your commitment to the PSAB initiative and issue your call-up to one of the above suppliers. They are there to provide you with a quality product in an effective and professional manner.

Materiel Management Institute (MMI) National Workshop

On May 17 & 18, the PSAB team participated in the Trade Show portion of the 15th Annual MMI National Workshop, held at the Ottawa Congress Centre.

This year, in support of our continuing drive to promote the use of standing offers awarded to Aboriginal suppliers within the Federal Government, the PSAB team invited twelve local Aboriginal suppliers to co-exhibit with us.

These firms, listed below, all have national or regional master standing offers, covering a wide range of products and services. These suppliers can be found in the Standing Offer Index (SOI) which is maintained by PWGSC.

The MMI Trade Show was a great opportunity for these suppliers to promote their goods and services, develop key government contacts and build effective relationships. We are confident that our co-exhibitors found this to be a very successful event.

Congratulations...

We are proud to announce that as part of the Materiel Management Workshop, Allen Frost (PSAB) and Serge Langlois (Contracting) were honored with MMI Team Award for his efforts in promoting the PSAB and support to the materiel management community in general. Congratulations for your well deserved awards.

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