Indigenous self-determination is good for economy

Indigenous business support is one of The Chamber’s key advocacy priorities. We all stand to benefit by having First Nations participate in the economy, and that requires supporting self-determination.

The University of Victoria recently received a federal research grant that will allow a team to “design and advance a sustainability framework for decision-making in Indigenous communities that ensures their values, knowledge and concerns are at the forefront as they assess development proposals on their lands.”

The UVic team will build off a successful system that has been used for five years with Toquaht Nation in BC, as well as with communities in New Zealand and Indonesia.

“This project is very critical to the empowerment and self-determination of Indigenous governments and peoples,” said Cloy-e-iis Judith Sayers, president of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council and a member of the project’s Council of Senior Advisors. “Basing models on traditional knowledge and ways of knowing directs the work to be done and utilizes self-determination to its fullest. Sharing models with other Indigenous communities around the world adds to the richness of what can be contained in the models. Establishing their own indicators on what is important to each Nation is also building on governance and putting the decision making in the hands of the people.”