Man. And Sask. residents less likely to support Indigenous business
A recently published survey has found Canadians in general believe the creation and support of Indigenous businesses is important, but the numbers are a bit different when it comes to the prairies.
The report compiled by Sodexo Canada and the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business found nearly eight in 10 Canadians believed Indigenous businesses strengthen the country as a whole. In Saskatchewan and Manitoba, 10 per cent of respondents believed Indigenous businesses are “not at all important” in creating sustainable opportunities for Indigenous people compaired with only three per cent in the rest of Canada.
“It’s very clear there’s a disconnect with our non-Indigenous citizens and the impact Indigenous economic development has on the economy,” Shaun Soonias, the executive director of the First Nations Economic Development Network said.
He said he doesn’t know if it’s the history of relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Saskatchewan which has led to the results published in the Sodexo report, but said he sees a shift happening.