Grants for Indigenous Small Businesses
I want to share my on-going critical thought leadership on funding grants for Indigenous-owned and operated small businesses. Almost every space that offers grants for a small business like mine requires me to be registered and even incorporated to make an application for this funding. Why is this? Because the funding comes from governmental or corporate entities that think the only way to be successful is through the lens of a colonized and capitalistic wealth generation system. I do not see that my financial wealth accumulation is the epitome of wealth. I don’t know how registering my business makes me more ‘professional’, ‘safer’ or ‘capable’ of doing business. It is a sandbox that was built without my input, worldview, values, etc. It is a system that creates an environment that generally goes against my worldview of well-being, guardianship, and values of governance and leadership. When I incorporate my business, it immediately loses its identity as an Indigenous business. I then have to pay taxes, which is not something I am about to uphold as all provincial and federal governments are at odds with First Nations about everything, funding, title, rights, land back, etc.
Why are you going to force me into a place where my identity is not Canadian, Indigenous, or First Nation, but as a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw member and citizen of the səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) and Kwakwaka'wakw Nations, as this is who I belong to and where I come from. I am a status Indian under the Indian Act, and I do not pay income tax, so why should my business, which is on reserve, have to collect taxes to entities that are constantly still causing harm for us today and will continue to do so for generations to come? It is my right not to register or incorporate my business, so why can’t I apply for funding because of my choice?
I get that it’s probably for liability reasons of some sort under law, but again, these laws were created with a colonial mindset, lens and worldview that is not mine. Do you see the paradox this puts us in? I am here to uphold my worldview, values, lens and transform spaces, so I continue to grow my business without any support from any space that requires this from me and my small business. I am happy to work in collaboration with entities that do not require this of me and my small business, and can respect my stance and choice.
I am the founder, owner and operator of my business as I choose not to work for anyone, for a multitude of reasons, which is generally the same as above. This allows me to work with those that embrace, hold and uplift my worldviews, values and foundation of well-being for not only myself but for all living things. I do not market myself as I want people to find out about me and the work I do through relationships, by participating in something with me or through recommendation by those in my network who truly know me.
This image is from Step into the River: A Framework for Economic Reconciliation, which represents my thought leadership on well-being:
Created by Sxwpilemaát Siyám / Chief Leanne Joe and transformed into this amazing graphic by Nahanee Creative.
But it is not all encompassing of what is on my heart for transformation towards well-being for our humanity, spirits, future generations, our ancestors and all living things, which includes Mother Earth and the universe. This is just to begin the conversation, critical dialogue and thought leadership for transforming a way of only wealth accumulation to a standard of well-being.
I am not wounded nor have trauma around money. I was raised with tools, skills and understanding of financial wealth. I have just made a conscious choice not to play in the sandbox of the current entrepreneurship and business development environment. But I am happy to have discussions with those who want to transform paradigms and design solutions that reflect a brighter future for generations to come.
I will close with this, as I share this every time I speak to my son’s future. He is not wealthy because of the amount of money he has in his bank account. He has well-being in his life because of who he is, who he belongs to, knows his purpose, and therefore knows where he is going. He is wealthy because he has three traditional names, comes from so many amazing First Nations and families. He knows how to hunt, fish, gather, traditional medicines, and cultures because he knows the land through a reciprocal relationship with it. He knows his spirit and the love he has in his life. He knows his values, is willing to uphold and protect them, but more importantly, live by them without comprise. He is empathic, has empathy, equity, love, compassion and justice in his being. He leads his life with all of this, and doesn’t play the system, and he stands out because of it. He is shamed, disregarded, isolated, etc., because of it. He wears his identity on his person every day because he loves who he is and who and where he belongs, and is racialized for it.
I share because our Canadian ideology of who we think we are as a ‘Nation’ is not what you think it is. And we are constantly at odds with that. Food for thought as we continue to uphold systems, policies and practices that do not match who I am and what I want for myself, but more importantly, for my 7th generation.
