Community-grounded projects
This encouraging spirit is at the centre of StartUP Nations, which was developed by Karine Awashish, social economy advisor at the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Economic Development Commission.
This year’s teams came from Quebec City, Mashteuiatsh, Mistissini, Manawan, Uashat-Maliotenam, Ekuanitshit, Pessamit and Listuguj. They each arrived with a developed concept and even had their own logos.
“Some of the things we think of as a business in a city don’t necessarily work in a remote community,” explains Abraira.
Nonetheless, the wide-ranging projects had some similarities. “I think virtually every project incorporated the use of Elders’ knowledge in the development of the enterprise. That for me was something very impressive.”
Deer cites the moose hide project, developed by the Mistissini team with whom Godwin worked closely, as an example of one that emphasized this kind of knowledge.
The team had noticed that when moose were hunted in their Cree community, hides were going to waste or being tanned in a way that did not reflect traditional methods. Their project seeks to involve Knowledge Keepers of older generations to ensure hides are preserved in a way that carries forward the traditions of their people.
These are then used for crafts or staple items such as mittens that can be distributed within the community or sold.
“They weren’t necessarily businesses,” says Deer of the breadth of projects. “But they were all things that require entrepreneurial skills. And I think gaining those skills in the interest of benefiting the community is really what interests Indigenous people.”
She highlighted how events such as these can help build connections between communities by noting that something like the moose hide project could be beneficial to her own community.
“We kind of have lost those skills,” she says, before correcting herself. “They were taken away from us.”