Entrepreneurship and indigenous identity: a study of identity work by indigenous entrepreneurs in British Columbia

Abstract

Recent literature on indigenous entrepreneurship has called for the exploration of the relationship between indigenous culture and entrepreneurship as well as the relationship between indigenous identity and entrepreneurship. In this study, we explore how being an entrepreneur effects the identities of Canadian indigenous people. To do so, we interviewed thirty urban British Columbian indigenous entrepreneurs. Drawing on an identity work lens, we illuminate the narratives that entrepreneurs leverage and create during interviews in their attempt to create a coherent and meaningful concept of themselves. Counter to the current focus in the indigenous entrepreneurship literature which suggests indigenous entrepreneurs may struggle to maintain their indigenous culture and identity while being an entrepreneur, our study suggests that being an entrepreneur does not necessarily weaken, and in fact can strengthen, the connection indigenous entrepreneurs have to their identities as indigenous people