The Yukon has one of the fastest growing, albeit smallest, economies in Canada, with an increasing population and a tight labour market. Modern treaties and self-government agreements have empowered First Nations government and Supreme Court decisions and treaty rights secured Indigenous governments a significant place in the resource sector. Yet Yukon First Nation businesspeople are not yet benefiting fully from this positive political and economic situation. This paper explores the underrepresentation of the Yukon First Nation businesspeople in the economy through an exploration of the available data from the Yukon business survey, census of Canada self-employment data and a new national program at Statistics Canada that is working to better define the presence of Indigenous businesses within the national economy. The research shows that work still needs to be done to better support the development of Indigenous businesspeople as they strive to break through the barriers that have left on the margins of the northern economy.

.

The plants around the circle represent the medicines we use in our Mi’kmaq communities and appeal to a returning to traditional knowledge for healing. The stages of the medicine show the transitional cycles of growth. Orange background is the reflections of sunsets we have here in Unama’ki and are invoking the Truth & Reconciliation Calls to Action. The buildings show differences in homes and offices, many worked from home during throughout the pandemic, and it changed our idea of working environments. The bottom half of the circles represents a reflection on our history and that we have always had to adapt to changing times and circumstances. We are shaped by our environment and culture.

The path toward economic reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations in Canada is a complex and vital journey that requires careful consideration of historical injustices and contemporary challenges. This paper focuses on the role of public procurement in addressing economic disparities and strengthening the nation-to-nation relationship between the Government of Canada and Indigenous communities. It provides an overview of public procurement's strategic importance, analyzes Indigenous federal procurement data from 2009 to May 2023 to identify trends and areas for improvement, and presents insights from a 2023 Indigenous procurement survey. Key findings emphasize the need to align Indigenous business capacities with procurement activities, promote inclusivity, and establish effective communication and mentorship programs. Implementing these recommendations can advance economic reconciliation and promote fairness within Canadian society.

Welcome to another issue of Lessons from Experience. This year’s articles take us on a cross country tour where we explore the endless possibilities of economic development within and for Indigenous communities and people. To begin, on a national scale, Transforming Indigenous Procurement: Empowerment, Challenges, and the Road Ahead, provides us with an in-depth view of the world of procurement in Canada and the realities for Indigenous communities, corporations, and individuals to participate in this unique opportunity. Next, we are to celebrate the wonderful successes of Norway House Cree Nation, for their amazing work and dedication to build capacity and success within their community. Within their five-year economic development strategy, the reader learns about the construction of a new health centre, partnerships with mineral exploration companies, and construction of a fibre link from the community to the provincial network, to name a few successes.

The Yukon has one of the fastest growing, albeit smallest, economies in Canada, with an increasing population and a tight labour market. Modern treaties and self-government agreements have empowered First Nations government and Supreme Court decisions and treaty rights secured Indigenous governments a significant place in the resource sector. Yet Yukon First Nation businesspeople are not yet benefiting fully from this positive political and economic situation. This paper explores the underrepresentation of the Yukon First Nation businesspeople in the economy through an exploration of the available data from the Yukon business survey, census of Canada self-employment data and a new national program at Statistics Canada that is working to better define the presence of Indigenous businesses within the national economy. The research shows that work still needs to be done to better support the development of Indigenous businesspeople as they strive to break through the barriers that have left on the margins of the northern economy.

In this issue, we present two articles in Lessons from Research. The first article Where exactly are all the First Nation Businesses? Interpreting the First Nation Business Environment in Yukon, 2008-2021 by Ken Coates and Greg Finnegan examines situation of First Nations Businesses in Yukon Territory. As one of the fastest growing economies in Canada and with one of the longest standing land claims agreement the Yukon First Nation Final Agreements, the expectation was that Indigenous business formation would be high. However, Indigenous businesses continue to be underrepresented in the Yukon economy. While there are data challenges in collecting data on Indigenous businesses, a complex picture of factors affecting Indigenous businesses emerges. Future business development will require co-ordinated efforts by First Nations, Territorial, and Canadian governments to address well.

Renewable energy (RE) is at the forefront of Canada’s strategy to achieve a net-zero electricity grid by 2035. The development of RE projects is also promoted as a means to deliver energy services in rural and remote Indigenous communities across the North. Although RE projects have the potential to contribute to sovereignty, self-sufficiency, and economic reconciliation, the social value of RE to Indigenous communities is often overlooked and poorly understood. This article advances themes for understanding and approaching RE developments to better assess their social value. It does so based on the analysis of lessons from RE research in northern Canada and Alaska. We demonstrate that RE projects can create outcomes that are value generating or value eroding and that such outcomes are often couched in the context of supporting or detracting from self-determination. Techno-human variables, from community vision and capacity to policy environments and local RE ownership, serve to enable or inhibit the realization of value-generating outcomes from RE. Finally, we identify several pathways to creation from RE, including relationships and collaborative leadership, knowledge and skills-development, Indigenous-led policies that decrease energy bureaucracy and manage benefits distribution, and regulations and structures that safeguard ecologies.

Story on Norway House Cree Nation under Chief Larson Anderson's leadership

We are so excited to help you Learn to Fly. Together. This is the first online issue for our journal. I want to share a bit of our journey with you and acknowledge all of the people who have contributed to this wonderful event. But first, I would like to encourage you to dig into the stories that are shared in this issue. JAED editorial board members and staff are dedicated to your success – in your family, your community and our place in Canada.