b'WELCOME MESSAGEPaths to ProsperityBy Shannin Metatawabin, CEO, and Jean Vincent, ChairW elcome to the inaugu- to ProsperityA Bright Future Rooted ral edition of Indigenousin Tradition.Prosperity magazine. We are excited to share the stories ofThroughout the pandemic, the NACCA many important people contributing tonetwork has dedicated itself to ensur-success across the NACCA networking continuity by delivering emergency and to celebrate the resilience andfunding to Indigenous entrepreneurs strength of Indigenous communitiesand adapting to new ways of working. and entrepreneurs. We developed new and innovative Photo Credit: Fred Cattroll The path towards reconciliation infunding avenues, such as the Indige-Canada will be successful if it followsnous Growth Fund and the Indigenous the example of our networkcommit- Womens Entrepreneurship Program, ted, strong, resilient, united and de- which are now helping support the termined. This spirit and commitmentsuccess of Indigenous businesses to prosperity has allowed Indigenousacross the country. As we look to the entrepreneurs to overcome manyfuture, we are also developing sup-obstacles over the years and emergeports to increase the number of youth stronger and better each time. entrepreneurs and creating an online We recognize that achieving trueIndigenous Business Hub to serve as reconciliation will require hard worka useful tool for those interested in and dedication from current and futureIndigenous business and economic generations. Our leaders and Eldersdevelopment and the services provid-have called for reconcili-action: con- ed by Indigenous Financialcrete, measurable steps towards real- Institutions (IFIs).izing the economic rights and oppor- Our commitment to Indigenous tunities of Indigenous Peoples throughprosperity has also led us to collab-the support of corporate Canadaorate with other national Indigenous and all levels of government. In this regard, the United Nations Declarationorganizations to develop the NIES, on the Rights of Indigenous Peopleswhich launched in June 2022. The (UNDRIP) and the National IndigenousNIES includes 107 Calls to Economic Economic Strategy (NIES) are goodProsperity, providing a roadmap for places to direct your non-IndigenousIndigenous communities and entrepre-colleagues or contacts seeking ave- neurs to achieve socioeconomic parity nues for reconciliation. with non-Indigenous Canadians.Since its inception, NACCA has beenThere is still much work to be done at the forefront of promoting Indig- to level the playing field and ensure enous prosperity through economicthat Indigenous Peoples have the and business development. In 2019,same opportunities to prosper as our we held our first Indigenous Prosper- non-Indigenous neighbours. That is ity Forum, which was a resoundingwhy the theme for our 2023 Forum is success. Building on that momentum,Paths to ProsperityA Bright Future our second forum in February 2020Rooted in Tradition. We are excited to saw an almost 50-per-cent increase in attendance. After reconnecting income together again to explore oppor-2022, the 2023 Prosperity Forum willtunities to work towards Indigenous take place on April 19 and 20 at Hiltonprosperity and build a brighter future Lac-Leamy in Gatineau, Qubec. Thefor Indigenous communities acrosstheme for this years forum is Pathsthe country.6INDIGENOUS PROSPERITYIssue #1, 2023'