Over 450 people from across the province gathered in the standing-room only hall to join Minister de Jong in celebration of outstanding Aboriginal business achievement at B.C.'s first ever Aboriginal Business Awards Gala on January 27, 2009. 

The gala began with members from the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations performing a traditional welcome to award recipients at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver. Minister de Jong co-hosted with Peter Lantin, President of the BC Aboriginal Business Services Network, and the gathering was honoured by the attendance of many Aboriginal leaders including Shawn Atleo, Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations and Bruce Dumont, President of the Métis Nation of B.C. who spoke passionately about the achievements of Aboriginal business.

Each award recipient was profiled with a video highlighting their business. In total, 21 businesses were honoured for their leadership and entrepreneurial spirit in British Columbia’s business community. The awards covered a diverse range of categories including Best Young Entrepreneur, Business of the Year and Joint Venture of the Year.

See the full list of recipients for the B.C. Aboriginal Business Awards Gala

“The recipients of these awards come from all corners of the province,” said Michael de Jong. “They demonstrate just how strong the pool of Aboriginal business talent is. I hope that these awards will encourage the next generation of Aboriginal business people to have faith in their ideas, set up their own businesses and be well-positioned to receive one of these awards in years to come.”

The Minister presented Individual Achievement awards to Angelique Merasty Levac and Dororthy Grant. Métis artist Angelique Merasty Levac opened Angelique’s Native Arts to retail her work in birch bark biting and has expanded to offer a wide variety of native crafts made locally and across the country. Dorothy Grant has established a successful manufacturing, retailing and wholesaling business featuring highly acclaimed Haida fashion and accessories sold across North America.

The night also featured ‘The Best of Aboriginal BEST’. The Aboriginal Business and Entrepreneurial Skills Training (BEST) is a 12-stage program that provides budding aboriginal entrepreneurs with the tools they need to build and run a successful business. Eighteen nervous candidates had to do a business presentation to a panel of judges and it was a nail-biting moment as Meagan Pierre was announced as the recipient of the BEST award for her business idea to operate the OWN spa, using 100 per cent organic natural products.

The evening provided an opportunity to celebrate Aboriginal achievement in business, and also served as a great networking event. After one recipient slipped him a business card on stage, Minister de Jong told the audience, “This is what tonight is all about – you are the future. This is your time.”

The inaugural B.C. Aboriginal Business Awards were presented by the BC Achievement Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation. The BC Achievement Foundation is an independent foundation established and endowed by the Province of British Columbia to celebrate community services, the arts, humanities and enterprise. The awards were created to recognize outstanding accomplishments in the Aboriginal business community.

For more information, visit www.bcachievement.com.

The 2008 Aboriginal Business Award recipients:

Young Female Aboriginal Entrepreneur of the Year
Cristy Johnson, Cristy’s Jewelry Designs, Victoria
Cristy Johnson, from the Nlaka’pamux First Nation, owns Cristy’s Jewelry Designs, which offers one-of-a-kind handcrafted jewelry made of sterling silver and semiprecious stones. Operating for just over two years, Johnson is the sole proprietor of her business and handles most aspects of business operations, including design, production, marketing and sales.

Young Male Aboriginal Entrepreneur of the Year
Jacob Beaton, CopperMoon Communications Inc., Hazelton
For the past nine years, Jacob Beaton has developed CopperMoon Communications into the first full-service Aboriginal communications agency in Western Canada, championing Aboriginal philosophy with mainstream tools. CopperMoon provides services such as websites, books, branding, communications plans, posters, road signs and video training.

Business of the Year - One to Two Person Enterprise
Tryna Gower Photography, Dawson Creek
Tryna Gower is a photographer who operates an indoor and outdoor photography studio in Dawson Creek, producing commercial work but emphasizing the artistic side of the process. The business includes a mobile photography studio that travels throughout B.C. and northern Alberta.

Business of the Year - Two to 10 person enterprise
Chase Office Interiors Inc., West Vancouver
Chase Office Interiors Inc. is a fully integrated contract furniture company. The company services both commercial and government clients that require any combination of design services, contract furniture, installation services and overall project management.

Business of the Year - 10 or More Person Enterprise (tie)
BC General Contracting Inc., Westside
BC General Contracting Inc. is a civil contracting company, located in Westside, which provides excavation and installation services for commercial and municipal water projects including roads, water and sewer installation. Since its inception in 2001, the company has grown from a two-excavator company providing strictly excavation services to a 41-piece multi-faceted business.

Business of the Year - 10 or More Person Enterprise (tie)
Tin Wis Best Western Resort, Tofino
Tin Wis Best Western Resort in Tofino is a destination resort that provides a cultural experience to guests. Owned by the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations, it began in 1994 as a small, modest resort and is now a popular 85-room resort. The First Nations-themed lobby and restaurant are a cultural experience of their own and the menu of the Calm Waters Dining Room incorporates traditional First Nations cuisine.

Community-Owned Business of the Year
Metlakatla Development Corporation, Prince Rupert
The Metlakatla Development Corporation, located outside of Prince Rupert, functions as an independent business arm for the Metlakatla First Nation. The corporation, established in 1989, owns and operates the Metlakatla Ferry Services Ltd., North Co-op Ferry Services Ltd., First Nations Training and Development Centre, Grassy Bay Services Ltd., Metlakatla Forestry Corporation, Seashore Charters Ltd., and Northland Marine Sales and Service Ltd.

Joint Venture Business of the Year
Nicola-Forest Products Ltd., Merritt (partner – Ardew Wood Products Ltd.)
The Upper Nicola Band in Merritt and Ardew Wood Products Ltd have been partners since 1996 in a forest licence specifically for conversion of overstocked small-diameter lodgepole pines, often seen as waste product; by harvesting and replanting them they become productive trees for the future. A First Nations’ logging trucking company, road-building forestry division and silviculture operations have been created as a result of this long-term partnership.

Individual Achievement Award
Dorothy Grant – Dorothy Grant Ltd, Vancouver
Dorothy Grant is a First Nations fashion design company, established in 1992, 100 per cent owned by Haida artist Dorothy Grant. The company has a 15-year history as a successful manufacturer, retailer and wholesaler. She has built a brand that is unique worldwide and has international recognition. The company is now poised to expand the product line via a number of licensing agreements.

Individual Achievement Award
Angelique Merasty Levac – Angelique’s Native Arts, Prince George.
Angelique Merasty Levac creates one-of-a-kind birch bark art in the tradition of the Northern Woodland Cree women. In 1994, she opened a shop to sell her art and expanded over time to include masks and carvings, carved jewelry and arts and crafts of local artisans. She is one of only three remaining artists in the world who practice birch bark biting.

Best of the BEST Award
Meagan Pierre – OWN Spa, Penticton
Meagan Pierre’s winning business idea is to operate the OWN spa, which will provide customers in Penticton with a full array of esthetician services using 100 per cent organic natural product line. OWN means “One With Nature”.