b'BUSINESS RECOVERYremote work, learning and career devel-opment capacities there and in other underserved parts of Canada.We need to be in these places where business owners in particular struggle with connectivity issues, especially Indigenous business owners, Lee says. We believe the Web and online presence is key to short-term survival, and key to unlocking long-term growth. It provides a number of opportunities to Indigenous business owners in particular.One opportunity is the elimination of geographical barriers, Lee adds. Having an online presence opens doors to access across the country. If youre based in Iqaluit, an online presence can open access to all provinces and potentially even international markets, so compa-nies of any size can now compete in theGoogle Canada brought its Grow with Google initiative to Nunavut to expand remote work, global economy. learning and career development capacities in the regionIt is a good time to have that pres- has committed upwards of $400 million inAlbert, Saskatchewan. Ive connected ence, and those that do are taking fullcapital, the majority to Indigenous SMEs. entrepreneurs in Manitoba to ones in B.C., advantage of it, notes Monica James,and ones in Alberta to ones in Quebec. Indigenous banking manager, BusinessWere seeing Indigenous entrepreneursPeople are starting to think outside the Centre at the Business Development Bankpartnering with others across the country,box on how they want to get connected. of Canada (BDC). The BDC works withexplains James, who is a member of theThat would never have happened prior more than 700 Indigenous businesses andPeter Ballantyne Cree Nation in Princeto the pandemic. A BETTER TOMORROW MEANSINDIGENOUS PROSPERITY FOR THE FUTURETogether, we strengthen and enhance a prosperous Indigenous economy through the fostering of business relationships.Jonathan Kruger, Sodexo CanadaSodexo supports 84 Indigenousowned suppliersProudly working with 45 Indigenouspartners on 30 prosperous projects across CanadaWe have safely maintained over 50% of our Indigenous employees throughoutthe pandemicJonathan KrugerDirector of Indigenous Relations, Sodexo Canadajonathan.kruger@sodexo.com | 250 328 5941For Sodexos response to COVID-19, visithttps://www.sodexorise.ca/Aboriginal BUSINESS REPORT43'