Entrepreneurial development in Aboriginal communities in Australia and Canada

This article examines efforts to stimulate entrepreneurship among Aboriginal people in Australia and Canada. It describes the history of the relationship between Europeans and Aborigines in the two countries, including past efforts at economic development, and then compares two quite different approaches being used in the two countries to encourage entrepreneurial ventures among native peoples. Both approaches are in the experimental stage, so it is too early to draw firm conclusions about their usefulness. Preliminary indications are that each approach has strengths which might serve as valuable input to policy-making in the field of economic development strategy.