In an exclusive interview with Indigenous-SME Business Magazine, Dr. Wanda Wuttunee, Professor in the Department of Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba and former Director of Aboriginal Business Education Partners at the Asper School of Business, shares insights shaped by decades of research, leadership, and engagement with Indigenous communities across Canada.
Interview By SK Uddin
Dr. Wanda Wuttunee, Professor in the Department of Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba and former Director of Aboriginal Business Education Partners at the Asper School of Business.
Dr. Wanda Wuttunee is an internationally recognized scholar in Canadian Indigenous community economic development and entrepreneurship. For more than four decades, her research has explored the interaction between Indigenous values and capitalist systems, with particular attention to gender, culture, tradition, and the role of social enterprise and co-operatives in economic development. Her concept of “community capitalism” underscores the importance of economic activity being aligned with the priorities, values, and well-being of Indigenous communities. Through her work, Dr. Wuttunee has illuminated the diverse and often underrecognized ways Indigenous peoples contribute to the Canadian economy.
Dr. Wuttunee has authored numerous academic and popular articles and delivered extensive conference and invited presentations nationally and internationally. Her recent publications include two edited volumes: Engraved on Our Nations: Indigenous Economic Tenacity (2024) and Still Ruffling Feathers: Let Us Put Our Minds Together and See What We Can Do for Our Children (2025).
As a professor in the Department of Indigenous Studies and, for twenty years, Director of Aboriginal Business Education Partners at the Asper School of Business, University of Manitoba, Dr. Wuttunee played a pivotal role in educating Indigenous students and non-Indigenous allies. She stewarded over $1 million to support Indigenous business education and programming. Her leadership and scholarship have been recognized through numerous honours, including the Indigenous Faculty Excellence Trailblazer Award and inclusion in Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women. She was co-chair Programming for Canada’s Commonwealth Study Conference for leaders in 2022. She sat on the expert panel for National Indigenous Economic Development Board’s recent 2024 National Indigenous Economic Progress Report and was a member of the Scientific Advisory Panel for the Canadian Northern Corridor project at the University of Calgary. Since 2005, she acted as co-editor and also editor of the Journal of Aboriginal Economic Development.
What was the original inspiration behind Engraved on Our Nations and what did you and your co-author Dr. Fred Wien feel was missing from existing conversations about Indigenous economic development that this book needed to address?
For the past several decades, academic literature, reports of inquiry and media features have chronicled the disadvantaged and unequal position of Indigenous peoples in Canada. While often accurate in terms of their substance, this has contributed to a deficit perspective that is deeply discouraging to elected leaders, their administrations and civil societies who on a daily basis engage in the struggle to improve community conditions. It is also a perspective that ignores the tremendous resilience of Indigenous communities who have survived despite extreme hardship. It downplays the strengths of their political leadership as well as the tenacity and innovativeness of their business class. In so doing, the lessons that might emerge from a study of strength and resilience is submerged. It fails to inform government policy and programs, it neglects to give hope to those working on the front lines, and it misinforms students who are seeking better answers for the future.
Despite these almost insurmountable obstacles to individual and collective well-being, an economy based in part on traditional fishing, hunting, trapping and handicraft production has survived, although not so much in some areas as in others. Additionally, a “modern” business sector has emerged, and it did so even before government programs became available to support entrepreneurship and business development. These case studies showcase multi-faceted and multi-layered examples of Indigenous ingenuity, creativity and tenacity.
This is a collaborative project that brings together many voices and case studies from across Canada. Why was a collective approach important to you, and how did it shape the stories and themes that emerged in the book?
Economic development encompasses a wide range of dreams, visions and choices for Indigenous peoples that have identified the important boundaries of economic efforts. When Indigenous people were hidden in plain view, they made economic choices a reality through tenacity. These stories offer insight into how individuals and communities made it through tough times and continue to meet diverse challenges in a variety of types of initiatives that are important to Indigenous individuals and communities.
The rich history and numerous contributions from individuals operating in different and connected spheres of influence and impact, add meaning to what Indigenous tenacity brings to the Canadian economic experience. It is the actions of the ones who think for themselves and act for others. Over time, opportunities are often handed to the next generation for their continued efforts. These stories of tenacity in Indigenous economic endeavours do not stand apart from the Canadian experience. They are integral. We look at stories from coast to coast to coast and share lessons that have stood the test of time. Some stories celebrate a hunters and trapper program for youth; strategic leadership on both the east and west coasts; an urban reserve, social enterprise and a successful national collaboration between First Nation communities and the Canadian Federation of Municipalities.
You’ve written for decades about “community capitalism” and Indigenous economic resilience. What key themes or patterns of tenacity and innovation stood out most strongly as you and your co-authors gathered these stories?
To begin, these stories dispel the myth that we as Indigenous peoples are victims, a burden on the economy and are closed for business. We have a long history of engagement with Canadians and the economy that is below the radar for most Canadians including in some of our own Indigenous communities. The contributors point to various facets of Indigenous tenacity while building a greater appreciation for the journey to where we find ourselves today.
The idea of community capitalism is for development strategies to align with individual and community values. The push forward demonstrated here encompasses all levels, from individual/family enterprises through to community economic development initiatives and on to nation-building exercises seeking to attain economic success in line with community values.
In the case studies described here, entrepreneurship is important but so is the role played by political leaders who are on the front lines helping to shape the community’s vision for development. Sometimes it is better that business not be separated from politics. At present, the situation facing Indigenous businesses remains difficult with some factors such as small community size, geographic isolation, and racism playing a role.
We note especially some favourable court decisions that have opened up opportunities, much more robust government programming, and the development of a web of institutions designed to support Indigenous economic development. We are also impressed with the range of mechanisms and vehicles that communities have developed to advance their interests that contribute to tenacity in that they provide collective and often legally buttressed mechanisms to protect and advance Indigenous forms of economic activity.
Engraved on Our Nations challenges deficit-based narratives by highlighting successful Indigenous-led enterprises and community initiatives. Can you share one or two examples that, for you, best capture the blend of cultural values, business acumen, and leadership showcased in the book?
When digging into Indigenous economic success stories, leveraging partnerships are often part of the story. It may be with other Indigenous or neighbouring communities or with mainstream businesses. For example, in the mid-1980s Tahltan Nation (northwestern BC) leadership began rebuilding their struggling nation and taking control of local resource development. Their Nation development policies targeted a development strategy that protected community values for benefiting citizens and protecting the environment through their new development corporation. Their environmental assessment team – focused on the land, Tahltan spirituality, valuing all life; and supporting bonds, kinship, roots, and belonging while demonstrating respect for others. Economic development is not a singular panacea but it helped move the community from poverty to affluence as they partnered with resource companies on their terms – resulting in more than $70 million in revenue and significant employment of their citizens.
The second initiative is a joint national program with the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and First Nations communities across the country. A select number of partnerships receive support to work together on economic development projects that are a win-win for both partners. Program evaluations outline measurable positive impacts for all partners – jobs created; capacity building and of course increased understanding and sensitivity of how to work together. A Chief from Alberta shared these thoughts -Muster your courage; take that leap of faith. The other orders of government aren’t actually the enemy — they can become your best allies. When you look at the downloading of services by the federal government to the provinces and from the provinces down to municipalities, we’ve got a lot more in common.
If we can pool our resources and our knowledge, we can come up with some unique solutions that we wouldn’t have been able to come up with on our own and that alone is well worth it. A Mayor from BC shared-Before you start talking to your neighbours, you think you’re kind of in your own world trying to solve problems quite different from your neighbours. And you find that even though we have different forms of government logistically, we have very much the same concerns. We have very much at the end of the day the same interests: To have a sustainable community, to have a community that’s a great place to live for citizens of all ages and to have a community that’s going to provide for our children’s children down the future in a positive way.
As you continue this work, including with your new edited volume Still Ruffling Feathers, what message or insight do you most hope Indigenous youth, entrepreneurs, and policy-makers take away from these stories of economic tenacity and leadership?
We are resourceful, adaptable, ingenious and a courageous and determined people. Honour your values. Be kind and respectful while making room for all voices – including allies. Be open to possibilities. It is a good thing to discover our commonalities rather than focusing on our differences and focusing on our strengths and not our weaknesses. Stories matter. It is a two-way street for relationship-building as we learn how to work together – ultimately loving, valuing and supporting each person, family and community. We are better together. Each of our stories matter. Those are some of the clarion calls in our book.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Indigenous SME Business Magazine. Our platform is dedicated to fostering dialogue and sharing insights that inspire and empower small and medium-sized businesses across Canada.
