1. Stó:lō Business Association
Work to Date
Submitted by: Shannon Smith
Executive Assistant,
Stó:lō Community Futures
August 26th, 2016

2. Start of an Association
Beginning with the first Aboriginal Business Connect in 2015, the Stó:lō Business Association is a Member-driven organization, encouraging the networking and interaction of Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs in Sólh Téméxw.
As one of the key Recommendations of the STÓ:LŌ STRATEGIC VISION, and with funding through Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC)’s Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program (AEP), the Stó:lō Business Association is gaining tremendous momentum.
The work on the development of the Stó:lō Business Association, including survey results, feedback from Event participants, and next steps, are summarized in this Report.
Aboriginal Business Connect
May 27th, 2015
Aboriginal Business Connect January 27th , 2016
Aboriginal Business Connect Entrepreneurial Event
March 31st, 2016
Launch of the Stó:lō Business Association
Letśe Q’ép (Let’s Gather) Event
June 16th, 2016

3. Preparing for Letśe Q’ép – Survey Results
The Stó:lō Business Association was formally announced at the Aboriginal Business Connect Entrepreneurial Event (ABCEE), on March 31st,
In preparation for the first Stó:lō Business Association Meeting at the Letśe Q’ép (Let’s Gather) Event on June 16th, 2016, Stó:lō Community Futures (SCF) created weekly surveys to collect preliminary information, to direct the activities at the Letśe Q’ép Event.
The results of the surveys showed that Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs are looking for networking opportunities, and promotion and marketing assistance. This was also supported by the results of the survey results, shown on the next page, where Participants indicated that the key benefits they would like from an Association is promotion, branding and marketing supports, and expanding their professional network.
What would you like to see in an Association?

4. Preparing for Letśe Q’ép – Survey Results
What benefits would you like from an Association?
Other benefits identified by Participants included determining proper pricing for work/contracts; help applying for grants; assistance with finding business opportunities; a job board; calendars of events, particularly showcasing the Stó:lō culture and the Halq’eméylem language; the use of an Association logo in websites: and, international marketing supports.

5. Vision and Mission Key Words Exercise
At the Letśe Q’ép Event on June 16th, 2016, attendees participated in a number of activities and exercises, to assist SCF in gathering information, for the direction of the development of the Stó:lō Business Association.
The first activity, led by Facilitator Shirley Hardman (Shxwha:yathel and Swelchalot), Senior Advisor of Indigenous Affairs at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), and former SCF Board Chair, led participants to provide key words that would assist is shaping the Stó:lō Business Association organization, and provide guidance for the Vision and Mission.
Upon analysis of the key words and phases provided, there were several similar themes.
Overall, the theme of support, which includes education and training; honesty, and resources; was key. This was followed by focusing on the future, including building businesses, setting goals, planning, prosperity, and success. Finally, networking was also identified, which includes working together, trust, and connections.

6. Proposed Mission and Value Statements
From the provided key words, Facilitator Shirley Hardman and SCF Administrative Assistant Morris Prosser, composed the proposed Mission and Value Statements:
MISSION
An Aboriginal business network for sustainable success
VISION
Business success built on Xwélmexw values
Respect, courage, honesty, wisdom, humility, and truth

7. Benefits of the Stó:lō Business Association
The next exercise asked Participants to rank various focuses of the Stó:lō Business Association:
Once again, Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs identified supports as a key focus for the Stó:lō Business Association, specifically with promotions of their business, as well as networking opportunities.
An Indigenous Business Tradeshow (5%); an Indigenous Buy Local Strategy (4%); a Business Advocate in Sólh Téméxw (4%); and, the Voice of Indigenous Business, were all combined into the Miscellaneous category.

8. Group Feedback – Criteria of Memberships
The Participants separated into groups to discuss the types of Membership for the Stó:lō Business Association:
Group Discussion: Criteria of Membership s
Group One (Speaker: Darwin Douglas)
Align with First Nation culture
Associate Members need to bring something to the table
Process developed to review and vet Application
Select carefully; as the credibility of Association is crucial
Possible other membership, which includes partnerships
Group Two (Speaker: Kai O’Shea)
Full Members should have a decent business plan
Define criteria for Application of memberships
Group Three (Speaker: Charlie L’Hommecourt)
Associate Members should be nominated by Full Members
Intake periodic to prove Associate Members for entry
Voting power: small vs large businesses, every business gets one vote
Open Discussion
Support any regional struggles – Association should be balanced regionally within the Territory
Associate Members should employ Indigenous employees
Associate members should have cross-culture training
No politics involved

9. Further information – Survey Results
After the Letśe Q’ép Event, a new survey was created for Participants to complete, to further provide information for the guidance of the Stó:lō Business Association:
Questions: In any type of business association, such as the Stó:lō Business Association, a number of potential benefits are normally developed for the Members of the association. In order to help and assist in structuring the new Stó:lō Business Association, which potential member benefits are very important to your business?
90% Agree as Very Important
Access to entrepreneurial education/training Programs (90%)
60% Agree as Very Important
Stó:lō Aboriginal Business Awards
Newsletter/Updates via Social Media
50% Agree as Very Important
Health Benefits
Special Speaker Series
Member Database
Marketing Initiatives
Other statistics:
60% felt that Member to Member Business Deals and Regular Meetings were Fairly Important
86% planned to join the Stó:lō Business Association
75% of Indigenous businesses use Facebook

10. Stó:lō Business Association Meeting
Next Steps
The key Next Steps, will be to engage the Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs for initial enrollment into the Stó:lō Business Association , as well as engagement of the STÓ:LŌ MEANS BUSINESS Strategic Planning Committee’s Business Networking/Communications Sub-committee:
Business Networking/Communications Committee Meeting Finalizing Bylaws, Constitution, Codes of Conduct and Member Application processes
September 8th, 2016
Stó:lō Business Association Meeting
Member Finalization of Bylaws, Constitution, Codes of Conduct and Member Application processes, and Member sign-up
September 15th, 2016
Formal elections, formal launch of association
TBD (October, 2016)
Stó:lō Business Association - Regional Tradeshow - Launch
November 7th, 2016

11. Stó:lō Business Association Meeting – September 15th, 2016
To build on the momentum of Stó:lō Business Association, SCF will devise a strategic Communications Strategy to encourage attendance at the Stó:lō Business Association meeting, planned for September 15th, 2016:
Communication Strategy
Target specific Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs, and personally invite them to Event.
Compose Stó:lō Business Association Newsletter
Create social media messaging, and share on Stó:lō Business Association Facebook page, Twitter, and LinkedIn
Draft Flyer/Poster for Event
Share Article from Mike Watson, in the Benefits of an Association
Contact initial proposed Associate Members for the Stó:lō Business Association