Starting a business means believing in yourself and your dreams. Turtle Concepts’ vision is to empower people through inspiring, energetic and unique programs that understand the needs of humankind in an informative, enthusiastic and culturally-sensitive format. “Everyone has the right to feel good about themselves!” Socially, emotionally, spiritually and physically, Turtle Concepts gives training and guidance to empower people and help them use lifelong tools that will grow stronger with each passing day.

WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTERS

Wednesday, July 12, 2006: 1.30 – 2.30 pm

1. Calling All Artists and Crafts People (Return)

Aboriginal artists and crafts people who are also successful entrepreneurs, will share their stories and tips about what it takes to make a successful business in this sector.

Barbara Calderone, Pabineau First Nation

Barbara owns and operates two businesses, Pabineau Pow Wow (since 1996) and Pow Wow Computers (since 2000). Pabineau Pow Wow was first opened as a convenience store, then in 1999 it became an authorized Tandy Leather Supplier. The business has reached an international field of customers through tourism, pow wows, E-Bay, and local communities.  The Leather Factory store supplies many schools from other communities with their craft and leather supplies.  Her crafts and custom native clothing are seen all over the Maritimes at the pow wows and many items are all over the world bought by tourists who return year after year. The businesses employ three full-time, three part-time and four computer technicians. Barbara has been married to Joey for 13 years, and they have two children, Romona and Giovanni. She lives a traditional lifestyle and participates in cultural events throughout the Maritimes.

• Additional presenters to be confirmed

2. Working with Your Community EDO and Training Officer(Return)

This session will familiarize youth to services available at the community level. The community Economic Development Officer (EDO) and the Human Resource Development Officer are usually the first points of contact for anyone interested in pursuing entrepreneurship or related training. Your EDO can help you with all aspects of business planning and development, and your Human Resource Development Officer can help you find training you may need. This is one session you do not want to miss!

Anita Boyle, Economic Development Officer, Metepenagiag Mi’kmaq Nation

Anita is currently the Economic Development Officer and Aboriginal Human Resource Development Counselor for the Metepenagiag First Nation in New Brunswick. She is a graduate of the University of New Brunswick and holds two degrees, a BA and a BED. She graduated as a “Dean’s Scholar”. Anita is also a former graduate of the National School of Dental Therapy and recently completed a Certificate in Human Resource Management. Anita is also actively pursuing National Certification as an Economic Development Officer. Anita is an active member of the Joint Economic Development Initiative and representative for the N.B. Mik’maqs on the Aboriginal Business Service Network Atlantic Working Group. She has actively served as a steering committee member for various National conferences in the field of business, including this Summit. Future educational plans include obtaining her Masters Degree in Business. Anita is married and has four children, and currently resides in Miramichi , N.B.

Penny Polchies, Community Economic Development Advisory, Ulnooweg Development Group Inc., Fredericton

Penny Polchies has lived in St. Mary’s First Nation all of her life. During her early years, she was active in community issues including Aboriginal women’s issues, community health needs assessments, community theatre in Ontario and New Brunswick related to real life issues on First Nation communities, and in Canada World Youth, working in Indonesian villages on sustaining economic development.

She attended three years of university, but chose to leave her studies to work in the community. She worked as a First Nation Welfare Clerk and saw the economic disparity in the community. Moving into the field of economic development gave her a chance to address this issue. She worked as an Employment Training Technician, assisting aspiring entrepreneurs in business development, and accepted an appointment as the Gaming Commissioner for the High Stakes Bingo Hall. Through various training modules, she continued to build on her professional capacity and worked for the past 11 years in economic development at St. Mary’s First Nation, with four years as Director of Economic Development.

Recently, Penny accepted a position as the Community Economic Development Advisor for the Atlantic Region with Ulnooweg Development Group. She continues to advocate for and work on Aboriginal economic development opportunities for the Atlantic Region and sits on various local and national economic development committees.

Barbara Bartibogue, Aboriginal Human Resources Development Coordinator, Burnt Church First Nation

3. Where You Stand Depends on Where You Sit (Return)

This session will help encourage participants to broaden their horizons and look upon their environments as opportunities, not limitations. Participants will be guided through exercises to teach them how to think “outside the box.” By the end of the session, participants will be thinking in new ways, without limits, about their potential and the possibilities that exist.

Sarah Irvine, Youth Development Coordinator, Enterprise Fredericton

Working with young people ages 9-35 years old, Sarah offers entrepreneurial awareness and skills development as part of the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (YEDI). YEDI is funded by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Department of Post-Secondary Education and Training NB and local community partners around the province. Sarah is also an entrepreneur. Since July 2002, she has been operating her own weaving studio and selling her work throughout New Brunswick, Canada and around the world. Her experience as an entrepreneur helps her to deliver useful information to youth who are interested in pursuing or learning more about entrepreneurship.

4. Legal and Financial Choices (Return)

Should a business incorporate? What about taxation and businesses? Is there a difference between running businesses on- or off-reserve? These and more questions, will be answered during this session. Come and find out about the legal and financial choices you need to consider in setting up your business.

Thomas J. Burke, Fredericton

Thomas J. Burke (known by friends as T. J.) is a band member of the Tobique First Nation. In 1990, T. J. enlisted into the United States Military and served as a Paratrooper and Forward Observer for an Infantry Company with the 82 nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was honourably discharged in 1995. Upon his return to Fredericton, T. J. successfully completed his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of New Brunswick and Law Degree from Dalhousie University in 2000, and was called to the Bar in June 2001.

On June 9, 2003, T. J. make history in our Maritime Provinces by becoming the first Aboriginal person elected to the provincial legislature.

T. J. is a partner in the law firm Gaffney and Burke. His law practice focuses primarily on Aboriginal Law. T. J. has served as negotiator and legal counsel to assist several First Nation clients with corporate and commercial matters including the acquisition of major economic initiatives at Band government levels.

Wednesday, July 12, 2006: 3.00 – 4.00 pm

5. At Your Service: Aboriginal Entrepreneurs in the Service Industry (Return)

Hear from Aboriginal entrepreneurs about their businesses and what they have learned about running a business in the service industry.

Julia Lane, Sweetgrass Tanning and Hair Salon, St. Mary’s First Nation, Fredericton

Julia Lane took her cosmetology training at the Atlantic Hair Styling Acadamy in Fredericton. The course was 10 months in duration and upon completing it, she worked for 1250 hours at the Base Beauty Salon in Oromocto to obtain certification. After two years, and a practical and verbal exam, she received her Certificate in 1989 and continued to work in Oromocto for 10 years. In 1999, she started working at the St. Mary’s Entertainment Centre as a paymaster, and with St. Mary’s Retail Sales, at one point having three jobs, along with providing hair services on her days off. In 2000, she started working at St. Mary’s Retail Sales full-time, when she heard that a strip mall was being built by the band. That’s when she started to get things moving. It took about two years of meeting with different organizations for financial, equipment and other support, and to put together a good business plan for Sweetgrass Tanning and Salon.

Adam Augustine, Information Technology Sector

6. Vision, Balance Pride and Opportunity: Aboriginal Youth in Tourism and Retail (Return)

This workshop will provide participants with a clear understanding of new trends and development opportunities in Aboriginal tourism in New Brunswick. Find out how to develop a tourism business and what’s involved to ensure a market ready product and how to actively participate in the tourism industry.

The session will also inform you on how the youth are involved with the Metepenagiag Heritage Park Inc. The Heritage Park, scheduled to open in May 2007, will highlight over 3000 years of Mi’kmaq heritage and history, commemorating two of the most significant archaeological discoveries in North America: The Augustine Mound and the Oxbow National Historic Sites located in Metepenagiag, “the longest continuously inhabited village” in New Brunswick.

Karen Narvey, Project Executive, Tourism and Parks New Brunswick

Karen Narvey is Mi'kmaq from Esgenoôpetitj (Burnt Church) First Nation. Karen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Thomas University in Native Studies and has served the Aboriginal and mainstream communities in various capacities. She worked for NB Agriculture then moved to Toronto to gain work experience with Hudson Bay International Fur Sales, the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, the Ministry of Culture and Citizenship, hospitality and retail sales, and the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business. She returned to the east coast and worked for the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq and then with a business partnership between Burnt Church First Nation and Agriculture Canada. In 1997, she took the JEDI Entrepreneurship Program and since 1998 has been a Project Executive for New Brunswick Tourism and Parks. She currently works in sector development on Aboriginal Tourism, Outdoor/ Coastal Products, and the Winter Product.

Karen attends various conferences and best practices missions to keep up with new trends and to maintain a tourism industry network in Canada. She also serves as a lead on the JEDI Tourism Working Group, participates in the JEDI Plenary and Community Economic Development Officers Committees and has just served on a National Federal/Provincial/Territorial Aboriginal Cultures and Tourism Working Group.

Pam Ward, Metepenagiag Mi’kmaq Nation

Pam Ward, a Mi’kmaq from the Metepenagiag Mi’kmaq Nation and mother of two, is the Executive Director for a multi-million dollar international community driven cultural tourism initiative – The Metepenagiag Heritage Park. She sits on the Aboriginal Consultative Committee to the CEO of Parks Canada and is active in several local tourism associations and committees and also serves as Vice President of the Metepenagiag Outdoor Adventure Lodge Inc. Ms. Ward is also a member of the Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI) Tourism Sector Working Group for New Brunswick. She was a member of the Advisory Committee to the National Gathering on Culture and Tourism held in Whistler in 2003. She served as a Board Member of Aboriginal Tourism Canada representing culture and heritage and attended the Parks Canada Roundtable on Aboriginal Tourism in 2001 and recently the Minister’s Round Table on Parks Canada. Pam is currently serving as a Board of Director for the NB Museum.

7. Innovation Shaker (Return)

The emphasis of the Innovation Shaker workshop is creative thinking, problem solving, team building and innovation. Working in groups, participants will be given a challenge to solve using a specified budget, materials and deadlines. Criteria will be set in the beginning that must be met to win the challenge. To learn more about this workshop, you’ll have to attend!

Sarah Irvine, Youth Development Coordinator, Enterprise Fredericton

Working with young people ages 9-35 years old, Sarah offers entrepreneurial awareness and skills development as part of the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (YEDI). YEDI is funded by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Department of Post-Secondary Education and Training NB and local community partners around the province. Sarah is also an entrepreneur. Since July 2002, she has been operating her own weaving studio and selling her work throughout New Brunswick, Canada and around the world. Her experience as an entrepreneur helps her to deliver useful information to youth who are interested in pursuing or learning more about entrepreneurship.

8. Business Plan Basics (Return)

Why are business plans important? How do you make a business plan? What should be included in a business plan? What are business plans used for? These and other questions will be answered. Sarah Corey will go through an example of a business plan, explaining each part that should be included in this type of plan. Hand-outs will be given.

Sarah Corey, Community Business Development Corporation (CBDC) Southwest, Harvey Station

Sarah Corey was born in Fredericton and attended Fredericton High School. In May 2005, she graduated with a Bachelor in Business Administration, Honours in Human Resources from the University of New Brunswick. She has been working with the CBDC Southwest since August 2005, starting out as a Youth Development Coordinator and was recently moved into administering the Self-Employment Benefit Program.

Thursday, July 13, 2006: 11.00 am - Noon

9. Nuts and Bolts: Businesses in the Trades (Return)

Are you a tradesperson or interested in the trades? Then this session is for you. Running a successful business in a trade needs more than your knowledge in trades. Find out what else it takes, and hear from trades people who have successful businesses.

Tony Gabriel, Gabriel Electric, St. Mary’s First Nation, Fredericton

• Additional presenters to be confirmed

10. Working with Your Community EDO and Training Officer (Return)

This session will familiarize youth to services available at the community level. The community Economic Development Officer (EDO) and the Human Resource Development Officer are usually the first points of contact for anyone interested in pursuing entrepreneurship or related training. Your EDO can help you with all aspects of business planning and development, and your Human Resource Development Officer can help you find training you may need. This is one session you do not want to miss!

Anita Boyle, Metepenagiag Mi’kmaq Nation

Anita is currently the Economic Development Officer and Aboriginal Human Resource Development Counselor for the Metepenagiag First Nation in New Brunswick. She is a graduate of the University of New Brunswick and holds two degrees, a BA and a BED. She graduated as a “Dean’s Scholar”. Anita is also a former graduate of the National School of Dental Therapy and recently completed a Certificate in Human Resource Management. Anita is also actively pursuing National Certification as an Economic Development Officer. Anita is an active member of the Joint Economic Development Initiative and representative for the N.B. Mik’maqs on the Aboriginal Business Service Network Atlantic Working Group. She has actively served as a steering committee member for various National conferences in the field of business, including this Summit. Future educational plans include obtaining her Masters Degree in Business. Anita is married and has four children, and currently resides in Miramichi , N.B.

Penny Polchies, Community Economic Development Advisory, Ulnooweg Development Group Inc., Fredericton

Penny Polchies has lived in St. Mary’s First Nation all of her life. During her early years, she was active in community issues including Aboriginal women’s issues, community health needs assessments, community theatre in Ontario and New Brunswick related to real life issues on First Nation communities, and in Canada World Youth, working in Indonesian villages on sustaining economic development.

She attended three years of university, but chose to leave her studies to work in the community. She worked as a First Nation Welfare Clerk and saw the economic disparity in the community. Moving into the field of economic development gave her a chance to address this issue. She worked as an Employment Training Technician, assisting aspiring entrepreneurs in business development, and accepted an appointment as the Gaming Commissioner for the High Stakes Bingo Hall. Through various training modules, she continued to build on her professional capacity and worked for the past 11 years in economic development at St. Mary’s First Nation, with four years as Director of Economic Development.

Recently, Penny accepted a position as the Community Economic Development Advisor for the Atlantic Region with Ulnooweg Development Group. She continues to advocate for and work on Aboriginal economic development opportunities for the Atlantic Region and sits on various local and national economic development committees.

Barbara Bartibogue, Aboriginal Human Resources Development Coordinator, Burnt Church First Nation

11. Where You Stand Depends on Where You Sit (Return)

This session will help encourage participants to broaden their horizons and look upon their environments as opportunities, not limitations. Participants will be guided through exercises to teach them how to think “outside the box.” By the end of the session, participants will be thinking in new ways, without limits, about their potential and the possibilities that exist.

Sarah Irvine, Youth Development Coordinator, Enterprise Fredericton

Working with young people ages 9-35 years old, Sarah offers entrepreneurial awareness and skills development as part of the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (YEDI). YEDI is funded by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Department of Post-Secondary Education and Training NB and local community partners around the province. Sarah is also an entrepreneur. Since July 2002, she has been operating her own weaving studio and selling her work throughout New Brunswick, Canada and around the world. Her experience as an entrepreneur helps her to deliver useful information to youth who are interested in pursuing or learning more about entrepreneurship.

12. Gathering Financing - Part A (Return)

More people in Atlantic Canada are starting their own businesses than ever before, and it’s not hard to see why. Being an entrepreneur offers independence, the chance to make your own decisions, do things your own way, and the potential for tremendous rewards. Find out about government programs that can help you to start your business and access financing, business counseling, training and business information.

Adele Pirie, Enterprise Fredericton

Graduating from the University of New Brunswick in 2002, Adele Pirie has had the opportunity to teach English as a second language in South Korea. From there, she has worked with ACOA assisting with their first Extreme Entrepreneurship Conference in 2003. She is currently working for Enterprise Fredericton as an Economic Development Officer and has worked in that capacity for two years delivering the ACOA SEED Capital loan program. Adele has a personal invested interested in assisting youth stay and succeed in New Brunswick and is delighted to work closely with youth and entrepreneurship.

Jean Claude Power, Post-Secondary Education and Training

• Additional presenters to be confirmed

Thursday, July 13, 2006: 1.30 – 2.30 pm

13. Gathering Financing - Part B (Return)

How am I going to gather the money I need to start my business? What programs are there to help me in this area? How do banks and agencies decide whether to approve my applications for funding and loans? What do I need to consider when I’m looking for financing? What is my credit rating and why is it important? Come and hear from Aboriginal organizations and government departments about the programs available to help entrepreneurs, and find out the answers to your questions on financing.

Shannon Somerville, Ulnooweg Development Group Inc., Fredericton

Shannon Somerville joined Ulnooweg in August 2005 as a Business Services Officer for New Brunswick. He has extensive experience in economic development, personal finance and banking. Shannon has worked as an Aboriginal Youth Intern for the Fredericton Economic Development Corporation, a Personal Banker with RBC Royal Bank, and as a Credit Officer with Peace Hills Trust. Shannon has a Masters in Business Administration, as well as a Bachelor of Business Administration. He comes from the Burnt Church First Nation in New Brunswick.

• Additional presenters to be confirmed

14. Aboriginal Businesses in Natural Resources (Return)

Find out about opportunities available to youth in the natural resource forestry sector. A panel of individuals will share ideas, successes and future needs.

Steve Ginnish, Executive Director, ASEP-NB, Eel Ground First Nation

Steve Ginnish has been involved in the forestry sector for over 20 years focusing on Community Based Forestry and has received several provincial and federal awards in the forestry sector. For the last two years, he has served as Executive Director for ASEP-NB (Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership), developing avenues to foster employment for Aboriginal people in forestry.

• Additional presenters to be confirmed

15. Innovation Shaker (Return)

The emphasis of the Innovation Shaker workshop is creative thinking, problem solving, team building and innovation. Working in groups, participants will be given a challenge to solve using a specified budget, materials and deadlines. Criteria will be set in the beginning that must be met to win the challenge. To learn more about this workshop, you’ll have to attend!

Sarah Irvine, Youth Development Coordinator, Enterprise Fredericton

Working with young people ages 9-35 years old, Sarah offers entrepreneurial awareness and skills development as part of the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Initiative (YEDI). YEDI is funded by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Department of Post-Secondary Education and Training NB and local community partners around the province. Sarah is also an entrepreneur. Since July 2002, she has been operating her own weaving studio and selling her work throughout New Brunswick, Canada and around the world. Her experience as an entrepreneur helps her to deliver useful information to youth who are interested in pursuing or learning more about entrepreneurship.

16. To Everything There is a Season: Seasonal Businesses (Return)

Some businesses only operate during parts of the year – maybe you can earn extra cash on the side during the summer, winter, or on special occasions? Or have you thought about running a business during one season, and another at different time of the year? Find out how some entrepreneurs make the most of the weather.

Sheila Paul is from Burnt Church First Nation and has worked in the healthcare business as an Adult Care Worker. She also owned and operated a convenience store between 1986 – 1987. In 1991, she moved to Fredericton and completed the Bridging Year through the Mi’kmaq Maliseet Institute at the University of New Brunswick and two years of the Bachelor of Nursing program. She returned to Burnt Church in 2001 and saw a business opportunity when the Ice Cream Shop was put up for sale. Before long, she had her own ice cream shop, and established Cool Cravings Ice Cream Club in 2004.

T.C. Sock – to be confirmed

Connie Nicholas, Bodin’s Arts and Crafts

Connie Nicholas is owner and operator of Bodin’s Native Crafts/Pete’s Pool Hall located on Tobique First Nation, NB. This business has been running for the past eight years. Her father, Peter Nicholas, inspired Mrs. Nicholas to begin developing native crafts, i.e. leather work. She has been teaching and delivering workshops throughout New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Mrs. Nicholas has developed her marketing techniques through attending craft markets, trade shows and seminars. In 1997, she became a tourism operator currently employing five people, two of which are full-time craft producers. She consistently thrives to improve her work and her business.