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

~ C A S E S T U D I E SACL still provides some training for co-op board members and delegates to annual generalmeetings, holding orientation workshops for new delegates as well as veterans on the first dayof each AGM. These workshops address items such as understanding financial statements, theACL federation, and co-op philosophy in general. Apart from this, member training has basicallycome to a halt due to financial difficulties, although there is still a significant need anddesire to train local people to work in the northern co-op system. At the ACL/ACDF AnnualGeneral Meeting in May 2000, motions were passed to initiate more training for northernnatives and Inuit. Although there is currently a lack of financial resources for such an endeavour,delegates at the AGM sought support in principle from a representative of theNunavut government.The co-op in Cambridge Bay is experiencing similar difficulties. Bill noted that the directorsand members of the Ikaluktutiak Co-op would like to see more support from government todevelop training and education programmes to enable more Inuit to work in the co-op system.This situation is common to many, if not all, of the northern co-ops. Some people have alsonoted the need for more public education regarding the benefits of co-ops, adding that ifAboriginal and other government leaders had a better understanding of these organizations,it would likely lead to more support for the co-op model. While many do need to learn moreabout the benefits of co-ops and the co-op system, it appears that an understanding of cooperativeprinciples and values is increasing among political leaders. As several ACL officialshave noted, many northern political leaders began their careers in the co-op system.Community Impact and InvolvementThe Ikaluktutiak Co-operative has had a number of significant and positive impacts on thecommunity of Cambridge Bay. To begin with, it has been very successful at providingemployment to community members in the various operations it runs. When the fishingoperation was owned by the co-op, there were close to one hundred employees, and the retailstore currently provides approximately twenty-seven full-time and twelve part-time jobs tocommunity members. It is also important to note that the nature of co-operatives enables theIkaluktutiak Co-op to play a vital role in recycling capital within the community. Profitsgenerated by the co-op stay within the community in the form of patronage dividends andreinvestment in business operations. Businesses not owned by community members do notprovide the same positive economic impact.The co-op has also made a positive social impact on the community. As noted earlier, the cooperativestructure fits well with Inuit culture, and the democratic nature of co-operativesallows community members to play a significant role in deciding what direction the co-op willtake. Other Inuit cultural traditions are also reflected in the co-op, such as fishing, hunting, and~ 283