cardenconsulting

Carden Consulting offers Aboriginal community economic development technical support to First Nations in BC through a community engagement process that includes recognizing and reaffirming traditional knowledge, planning, developing the capacity of the community, and establishing capable governing institutions. 

Considerations for engaging Aboriginal peoples in BC can be reviewed in the Aboriginal Engagement Handbook written by Laara Mixon in 2006.

A critical component in this process is establishing effective governing institutions that achieve higher levels of economic development, supports social development, and healthier communities.  Canadian “research shows that institutional arrangements make a significant difference between achieving sustained economic success or continuing in poverty. Economic activity cannot thrive where there is uncertainty, and well-functioning institutional arrangements* provide stability and security. .. Institutional arrangements set the framework for economic development” (Report of the Auditor General of Canada, November 2003) 

The Harvard Project at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, confirms this finding from studies conducted on the conditions needed for sustained, self-determined social and economic development for American Indian Nations. The common factors for success are what is now called Nation Building and it is proving equally important for Canadian First Nations. 

* According to the Auditor General 'institutional arrangements' are defined as (1) effective governaning instiutions and (2) effective economic development departments or development corporations.