News and events

The University of Victoria’s National Consortium for Indigenous Economic Development is proud to welcome Kareem Allam to its advisory board. Kareem Allam is a Partner at Fairview Strategy, a Vancouver based public affairs firm. Kareem has over two decades of public and private sector experience and has developed keen expertise in the urban and rural economies of Western Canada and the critical role Indigenous sovereignty and investment has played in shaping economic growth.

The Virtual Victoria Forum, to be held on November 12, 13 & 19, 2020 focuses on bridging divides in the wake of a global pandemic. Evidence-based conversations will stimulate creative thinking to develop innovative ideas and actionable solutions to contemporary and urgent environmental, economic, and social challenges.

Arthur, Simoogit Galga, is a hereditary Chief, and past CEO, Nisga’a Commercial Group, and economic development coordinator for the Nisga’a Lisim’s Government. His broad experience over three decades includes building strategic economic development partnerships that increase business accessibility and capacity building.

In the summer of 2019, Peter Lantin, past president of the Haida Nation, moved to Victoria. Fortunately, for NCIED, Lantin and Dr. Brent Mainprize, had worked together for many years. While Lantin was president, they co-developed Haida Owned and Operated, an entrepreneurial program tailored for Haida residents to become self-reliant through business ownership. It was an honour that Lantin was willing to share his expertise on Indigenous governance and business, not only with NCIED, but also with the students, faculty and staff of the Gustavson School of Business.

BCAAFC, NCIED and Gustavson School of Business, in partnership with the Ministry of Advanced Education, secured funding for a BCAAFC Management Training Academy (MTA). From September 2019 to February 2020, participants selected from Friendship Centres in BC completed the MTA to further their training, experience and management skill set to aid in the succession planning for Friendship Centres.

The Indigenous-ACE programs provide culturally sensitive and community-tailored entrepreneurial and business education to ensure the full participation of Indigenous people in the Canadian economy.

Reconciling Ways of Knowing: Indigenous Knowledge and Science Forum, scheduled for May 25-27, 2020 at the Turtle Lodge in Sagkeeng First Nation and Winnipeg, Manitoba, moved online due to COVID-19. The Forum, convened by Miles Richardson, O.C.; Dr. David Suzuki; Dr. Nancy Turner; and Elder Dr. Dave Courchene, Jr. (the convenors), in partnership with the Indigenous Leadership Initiative and David Suzuki Foundation, was created to build understanding and relationships across Indigenous and scientific ways of knowing.

Orange Shirt day is an annual opportunity to come together in the spirit of hope and reconciliation for generations of children to come, and to honour the survivors whose families and communities have been impacted by the residential school system.