June 1st marked the start of National Aboriginal History Month in Canada. As such, we felt that it was important to put a 
spotlight on some of the funding options for prospective and current Aboriginal entrepreneurs and small business owners here in British Columbia. The Business Development Bank of Canada estimates that there are over 27,000 Aboriginal entrepreneurs in Canada, 30% more than between 1996-2001. We have listed the resources and organizations below as either "Regional Economic Trusts in BC" or "Funding/Financing Agencies".
Regional Economic Trusts in BC
Burns Lake Native Development Corporation (BLNDC)
“The BLNDC provides assistance with business plan development, government grant applications, and general advisory services as well as economic and community development assistance to Bands and their communities and access to technical, financial and management information.”
Community Futures Development Corporation of Central Interior First Nations (CFDC of CIFN)
“The CFDC of CIFN has several programs to aid in First Nations Business development including the Entrepreneurial Development Program, community workshops, business loans and assistance and micro-lending circles.”
Nuu-chah-nulth Economic Development Corporation (NEDC)
“The NEDC provides commercial loans for business start-up, expansion or acquisition, forgivable (non-repayable) loans and contributions for feasibility studies and business plans. Eligibility criteria include all Aboriginal people residing and operating within the Nuu-chah-nulth territory.”
Tale’awtxw Aboriginal Capital Corporation (TACC)
“TACC is mandated to provide Small Business Financing and support services to Aboriginals (Status Indians, Métis and UNN members) within traditional Coast Salish Territory, as well as Campbell River, Comox, and Lil’wat. TACC provides FCF loans, conventional loans, and the NRT (New Relationship Trust) Equity Match Grant.”
Funding/Financing Agencies
All Nations Trust Company (ANTCO)
“ANTCO is a provincially regulated financial institution with the fiduciary capacity to provide Trust; Agent; and Administrative services. ANTCO is also a source of capital for developmental business loans and consumer and commercial mortgages.”
BDC Aboriginal Banking
“The Aboriginal Banking Services offer financial products and consulting services to Aboriginal entrepreneurs to assist them with business start-up, financial planning, business plan development and market and product development.”
First Citizens Fund (Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation)
“The First Citizens Fund is available for cultural, educational and economic development for Aboriginal people in British Columbia. Business loans are available to Aboriginal residents of B.C. for most types of operations and a wide range of sectors.”
First Nations Agricultural Lending Association (FNALA)
“FNALA provides financing for Aboriginal agricultural and agri-food producers. It also offers First Citizen’s Fund loans and mortgages. Both on and off-reserve projects are eligible for FNALA loans.”
National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA)
“NACCA is the association for a network of Aboriginal Financial Institutions (AFIs) dedicated to stimulating economic growth for First Nations, Métis and Inuit. AFIs provide business financing and support to Aboriginal businesses, which can include; business loans, financial consulting services, aftercare and start-up support.”
Tribal Resource Investment Corporation (Tricorp)
“Tricorp offers loans for individuals, groups, partnerships, organizations, co-operatives and corporations. Both new and existing businesses are eligible and funds may be used for capital financing, operating loans or bridge financing."
You can also find many of these organizations and resources listed on our Funding and Financing page.
Learn More About National Aboriginal History Month
- Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada's listing of events in BC
- Aboriginal (Un)History Month at UBC Library
Do you know of any other similar organizations that we missed? Email us at lib.sba@ubc.ca and we will add them to the list!
PHOTO CREDIT: Mayne Island, created by Thomas Quine on October 25, 2008. Image made available under Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic license. Last viewed on June 5, 2013.