E D I T OR ’ S L E T T E R For over 6,500 years, the First Nations of the Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation, have been stewards of their land near Willams Lake, British Columbia. The Williams Lake First Nation has a thriving economic arm posed to help the Nation’s people now, and in perpetuity. Sought out for economic opportunities, the Willams Lake First Nation approach to business is unique, having created a diverse and progressive environment that involves ownership, capacity building, and infrastructure development. We are proud to champion their governance infrastructure, multiple wholly-owned businesses, and protected culture in our cover profile. The Indigenous economy in Canada is currently estimated by TD Economics to have the potential to reach $100 billion. The economic empowerment of Indigenous communities, businesses and entrepreneurs are inextricably linked with Canada’s overall economic growth. First Nations are a vital component in overall economic growth, and this issue features many thriving First Nations businesses. A common theme amongst our profiles is equity ownership—a strong driver of Indigenous economic growth, something that will benefit shareholders now and, importantly, into the future. The BEC Team 3 FEB 2023 | BUSINESS ELITE CANADA
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTE4MTQ=