Aboriginal Economic Development Celebrated in Week-long Conference in Whitehorse

Aboriginal Economic Development Celebrated in Week-long Conference in Whitehorse

October 17, 2016

Edmonton, AB – Over a week ago, Cando (the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers) celebrated the successes of Aboriginal Economic Development in Canada’s True White North. The 23nd annual conference was held at the beautiful Kwanlin Dun Culutral Centre in Whitehorse, Yukon. The theme for this year’s conference was “Partnerships for Prosperity: Change, Collaboration and Opportunity”.

Tuesday, October 4, 2016 marked the opening ceremonies for the conference. Opening with a local prayer and a lighting of a Sacred Fire that would last the duration of the conference. Elder Phil Gatensby spoke about the importance of the Sacred Fire and how it would provide a space for open dialogue over the 3-day conference. Close to 300 delegates also heard opening remarks from the Chiefs of the Co-Host First Nations – Chief Doris Bill of Kwanlin Dun First Nation, Chief Kristina Kane of Ta’an Kwäch’än Council and Grand Chief Peter Johnston of the Council of Yukon First Nations. Premier of Yukon the Honourable Darrell Pasloski, Mayor of Whitehorse Dan Curtis, and Maria Benoit, Chair of däna Näye Ventures, this year’s conference co-host organization, were among a number of notable speakers.

The National Youth and Women in Business Panels were held on Wednesday, October 5, 2016. They continued to be highly regarded by delegates who heard from 6 inspiring Aboriginal youth and 4 leading Aboriginal businesswomen from across the country. Also during the Wednesday festivities, Nelson Lepine, Director of the Carcross Tagish Development Corporation spoke to delegates on how their Economic Development Corporation has helped turn Carcross into a must-see destination for visitors to the Yukon.

Thursday, October 6, 2016, featured the President’s Dinner where the Economic Developer of the Year Awards were presented. The awards were based on votes from the delegates, after nominees from three separate categories made presentations earlier in the day. Rob Crow of Blood Tribe Economic Development won in the Individual EDO category; Birch Mountain Enterprises Ltd. won in Aboriginal Private Sector Business Category; and Teslin Tlingit Council and the Village of Teslin won in the Community category. The evening ceremonies were capped with the announcement of next year’s 24^th annual conference to be held in Fredericton, New Brunswick in the traditional territories of Maliseet First Nations.

About Cando

Cando is the only national organization that focuses on education and professional development for EDOs working in Aboriginal communities or organizations. Aboriginal controlled, community based, and membership driven. For more information, please contact, Aaron Samuel by email at aaron.samuel@edo.ca.