Aboriginal Co-operatives in Canada - Centre for the Study of Co ...

A P P E N D I X I ~have been difficult periods, particularly in early 1980s, when several northern co-ops werefacing bankruptcy (Wuttunee 1992, pg. 84).Since the co-op was first established as an arctic char fishery in the 1960s, operations haveexpanded into other areas. The retail store opened in the early 1970s and has since becomethe main operation of the co-op. In addition to the retail store, the co-op operates a hotel, a taxiservice, and a cable service. The fishing operation is approximately 51 percent owned by theGovernment of the Northwest Territories. The success of the co-op in Cambridge Bay is atleast partially due to strong support for the co-op system in northern Canada. In 1972, theCanadian Arctic Federation of Co-operatives was incorporated; in 1982, this organizationamalgamated with Canadian Arctic Producers to became Arctic Co-operatives Limited (ACL).ACL is owned by forty-two member co-operatives located throughout northern Canada. Itprovides accounting and auditing services for members; marketing; merchandising andpurchasing; training and education for managers and board members; and managementadvisory and support services.ACL’s lack of adequate financial resources, however, led to serious difficulties for ACLand its members. In 1986, to alleviate some of these problems, the Northwest TerritoriesCo-operative Business Development Fund (later the Arctic Co-operative Development Fund,ACDF) was established, infused with more than $10 million in capital contributions by theterritorial and federal governments (Wuttunee, pg. 83). Despite barriers to economic developmentsuch as geography, climate, and isolation, northern co-operatives such as Ikaluktutiakhave managed to survive periods of financial instability, and with the combined resources ofACL and ACDF, have become quite successful over the past two decades.Education and TrainingNorthern co-operatives have experienced significant difficulty with respect to co-operativeeducation and training. Initially, outside managers were brought into Cambridge Bay towork for the co-op. It is difficult to train members of the local community in business andco-operative principles, although it has been done with success at various times. After thepassage in 1978 of a unanimous motion to train northerners for employment in the co-opsystem, officials established a joint federal-territorial programme. During the late 1970s andearly 1980s, with the assistance of the Co-op College, ACL initiated a training programmebased on competency-based modules for the co-ops under its umbrella. The programme wasof a sufficiently high standard to be used for credit in similar education programmes at acollege in Ft. Smith. ACL also participated in a distance education programme with the Universityof Regina. As Bill noted, several local managers have been trained within the co-opsystem over the years, but they tend to move into better paying government positions.282 ~