March 24th, 2009 Learning Circle

Invitation to Learning Circle

Agenda & Guidelines for Discussion

Round Table Notes

Opening Remarks, Introductions, Explaining Learning Circle Methodologies

Question 1: What assets or strengths do Aboriginal women in Prince Rupert bring to the party?

  • Hard working, determined, resilient
  • Strong cultural knowledge, pride in heritage
  • Connection and loyalty to the area
  • Respect for the earth
  • Generous and hospitable

Question 2: What would hold people back from using their skills?

  • Confidence issues, difficult place to ‘make it’
  • Isolation, tend to stick to their own social groups
  • Difficult to find resources unless looking for them
  • Lack of mentors
  • Have good ideas, but not using them as a way to generate income
  • Unaware of strengths
  • Undervalued skills (ie. In the home)
  • Insecure about taking the step forward
  • Lack of knowledge about different resources in the community
  • Lack of formal education, or high school completion
  • Difficulties with returning to school, especially for young mothers
    • Daycare –huge issue –problem of access, cost, time consumption
  • The economy right now, the precariousness of starting a business that makes it
  • Not having the capital to start a business, issue of economies of scale
  • Not qualifying for subsidies
  • Accessibility to resources
  • Problem of different programs clashing with expectations (ie. If on EI, can’t work)
  • Disconnect between realities and policy-making
  • Confidence of staying in education, internal barriers, home situations
  • Fear of success, lose stability
  • Grooming for employees rather than entrepreneurs in school
  • Gendered issue: not encouraged to have a career
  • Problem of alcohol abuse, have babies to get out
     

Question 2A (interjection): How do we start a business? What could be people’s contribution from the circle?

  • ‘Under one roof’ project.
  • Social Enterprise
    • Problem of space
  • Needs analysis: skills gap survey
  • Using resources in community college to rewrite business plans, more effective, community driven mandate
  • ‘mother centre movement’: long-house in an urban centre, women as leaders, recreating the neighbourhood, sharing the commons
  • Fleece jacket maker in the community
    • What would her needs be? Equipment, business plan, workers, materials

Question 3: What are the specific, particular opportunities available to people in Prince Rupert?

  • Salmon berry trading company
  • Friendship house
  • Artist Co-op
    • Linking into a co-operative movement (Akwe-kon)
  • 2010 Olympics as a business opportunity for local artists
  • Port building: Van ASAP

Challenges:

  • Lack of confidence access:

Idea Proposed:

  • Developing a mentor program:
    • Keep people going
    • Provide and identify resources
  • Lucy from TD offered to start up this program, asked for committed volunteers.
    • Resources?
    • Who is to get involved in this?
    • Friendship house as a possible resource
    • John Turner
  • Lynn offered up the Chamber as a resource to get the mentorship program going
  • Stressing the needs of the mentored
  • Suggestion that some of the people being mentored could be potential mentors (Carmen Adams): Problem of time, access to capital

Talk about a local gardening program was also introduced, but not really elaborated on.

  • Some sort of greenhouse attached to a mother’s centre?
  • Potlatch enterprise: contracts for making generic regalia.
     

Business Opportunities Identified in the Process

As stated in the other meetings the women noted that there are a number of crafters in the community but they had trouble marketing their goods. As well, there is a woman in the community that makes fleece jackets and she could expand her business by developing a social enterprise, where other women could help her with her business. There is also an Artist Co-op and through the Aboriginal women’s economic development network the artists could link with Akwe-kon and other marketing agencies to market their goods. This would be good for the artists to take advantage of the 2010 Olympic games.

The women also suggested that a mentorship program be developed for Aboriginal women to mentor from women in business to acquire the skills to develop their own business. They suggested in working with the Chamber of Commerce to develop this program.

They also suggested that food security was important and that they would develop a greenhouse attached to their Mother Centre and sell fresh vegetables at a reasonable price.

They also wanted to develop a Potlatch Enterprise where they could get contracts for making generic regalia and Potlatch gifts.

Projects to Feasibility Stage:

The participants thought that it would be worth exploring in more depth the idea of a Potlatch and regalia supply enterprise and the creation of a mentoring group/process/program for Aboriginal women.