Everyone benefits when Aboriginal enterprise succeeds – NOB
6/30/2015
Waubetek is a First Nation-owned, not-for-profit entity that serves First Nations and Aboriginal businesses in northeastern Ontario. Waubetek’s core activity is to provide business financing to on- and off-reserve enterprises. We also provide regional economic support by developing wide-scale economic initiatives to facilitate access to broader economic opportunities. Waubetek is overseen by an experienced board of directors and professional staff who are focused on supporting Aboriginal business development and First Nation economic development throughout northeastern Ontario.
Last fall, Waubetek celebrated 25 years of investing in the “Aboriginal business spirit.” In our early days, we were full of hope and determination, but the capacity of the First Nations communities, our people and the certainty of how long we could sustain the idea of Waubetek was unclear. The deep potential quickly became apparent along with the ready and very capable take-up of even modest assistance. Since inception, we have invested $65 million in more than 3,000 Aboriginal business initiatives. The business people we work with are committed to making their businesses successful, such that 94 per cent of those businesses are still operating!
