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CUTLINE:
Debbie Houle, president of Aksis, an organization for Aboriginal professionals and businesses in Edmonton. (Photo: aksisyeg.ca)
By Shari Narine
Sweetgrass Contributing Editor
EDMONTON
October 3, 2016
Debbie Houle has lofty goals for Edmonton: she wants to see the city claim the title of Aboriginal Business Capital of Canada.
Houle, president of Aksis, an organization for Aboriginal professionals and businesses, admits that goal will be decades in the making, but she believes Edmonton is well on its way there.
“We’re into year four of operation and that type of a vision takes, that’s like a 20 year vision,” she said.
But Edmonton is set up to accomplish the goal, she contends. Not only is the city geographically situated as the gateway to the north, but it is presently home to the second highest urban Indigenous population in the country.
On top of that, Aksis has firm support from the city. That buy-in, says Houle, started with Mayor Stephen Mandel.
“Mayor Stephen Mandel really started that journey, that partnership in building relationships with the Aboriginal community in Edmonton. He worked with our community and did an extensive dialogue process with different members of the Aboriginal community …. Mayor Mandel was really one of the key drivers initially in forming and creating the momentum we are seeing today with Mayor Don Iveson,” said Houle.
The city is a major funder for Aksis, she adds. Funding also comes from the province.
“It allows us to have the resources to go out and create an environment that is building and supporting Aboriginal business people and Aboriginal professionals in Edmonton,” said Houle.
Aksis recently completed a strategic planning session, she says, and the goal is to keep the organization moving forward.
“We need to keep growing and being able to respond to the needs of our members and creating partnerships that are benefiting businesses and professionals in Edmonton,” said Houle.
Aksis has just over 100 members, which are Aboriginal professionals and businesses. Aksis also has associate members, which are non-Aboriginal organizations that want to work with Aboriginal businesses.
“I believe we have all of the factors and the right type of environment that’s going to help us realize that vision,” said Houle. “We’re really just starting.”