This report was prepared by the Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities (CFE) led by Lamia Kamal-Chaoui, Director. It was produced as part of the programme of work of the OECD Regional Development Policy Committee (RDPC).
The development of this study was made possible thanks to the support of Canada’s Regional Development Agencies (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Canada Northern Economic Development, Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario), Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, the Australian Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and Sweden’s Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation. These jurisdictions have also supported country case studies, which served as a critical input to this global comparative analysis. The European Commission’s Directorate-General of Maritime Affairs also supported a workshop in Brussels on Indigenous Economic Development in the European Arctic on 5 June 2018. Support from the Institute of the North to speak on Arctic Innovation and Mineral Development in the Arctic also enabled direct engagement with Indigenous leaders in Alaska in April 2018.
The project was co-ordinated by Chris McDonald, Policy Analyst, under the supervision of José Enrique Garcilazo, Head of the Regional and Rural Policy Unit in the Regional Development and Tourism Division led by Alain Dupeyras. The lead authors for each chapter were Laura Springare (Chapter 1), Chris McDonald (Chapter 2), Lorena Figueiredo (Chapter 3) and Lisanne Raderschall (Chapter 4). The authors would like to thank all colleagues from the OECD for their written comments and guidance on the draft report. In particular: Tamara Krawchenko, Ana Monroy Moreno, David Halabisky, Jonathan Barr, Maria Varinia Michalun, Claire Charbit (CFE), Lara Fleischer and Carlotta Balestra (Statistics and Data Directorate), and Mikaela Rambali and Alexa Piccolo (Environment Directorate). We would also like to thank Professor David Freshwater, University of Kentucky, and Jeanette Pope who provided valuable contributions to the report.
The OECD Secretariat extends its special thanks to the local team co‑ordinators for their committed involvement, continuous support and close co-operation to the project: Stephane Pronovost of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec and Patrick W. Watson from Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, Elizabeth Hoyt, Elizabeth Crombie, and Avinash Clarke from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in Australia, and Patrik Johansson and Lena Lind in the Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation of Sweden. We are also especially grateful to Matilda Månsson (legal advisor) from the Sámi Parliament of Sweden for her contributions and close co-ordination on the project.
Special thanks also go to all Indigenous representatives and leaders for their guidance, expertise and feedback that have accompanied us on this journey. The project team directly engaged with 36 different Indigenous communities in Australia, Canada, Sweden and the United States. In particular, we thank Dawn Madahbee Leach, Vice Chair of the National Indigenous Economic Development Board, Canada, for her deep enthusiasm, abundant support and wise reflections, as well as Lars Anders Baer, Special Advisor, Sámi Parliament of Sweden, for his counsel and advice. Further, we would like to thank: Chief Bob Gloade (Millbrook First Nation, Canada); Chief Clifford Moar (Mashteuiatsh First Nation, Québec, Canada); Ted Moses, former Chief of the Grand Council of the Crees; representatives of the Makivik Corporation (Innuit, Québec, Canada); Stevie Komoartok, Mayor, Pagnirtung, Nunavut, Canada; Vanessa Mountain, Trustee, St'át'imc 2011 Trust; Konrad Sioui, Grand Chief of the Huron-Wendat Nation, Quebec, Canada; Emmanuel Bertrand-Gauvin (First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Economic Development Commission); Djambawa Marawili (Baniyala, Northern Territory, Australia); Peter Yu (Broome, Western Australia); Brian Lee (Djarindjin Community, Western Australia); Rosanna Angus (Ardyaloon Community, Western Australia); Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Executive (South Australia); Kia Dowell (Indigenous Business Australia); Chief Peter Moonias (Neskatanga, Ontario, Canada); Councillor Larry Sault (Mississaugas of The Credit, Ontario, Canada); Per-Olof Nutti, President of the Sámi Parliament of Sweden; Åsa Larsson Blind, President of the Saami Council; Tuomas Aslak Juuso, Vice President, Sámi Parliament of Finland; Silje Karine Muotka, Member of the Governing Council, Sámi Parliament of Norway; Stefan Mikaelsson, Chair of the Livelihood Committee, Sámi Parliament of Sweden; Warren Mundine, Executive Chairman of the Australian Indigenous Chamber of Commerce; Jeffrey Maurice, Vice President, Vice President at Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated; Liz Qaulluq Cravalho, Vice President, External and Government Affairs, Nana Corporation, Alaska, United States; and Luz Mary Narvaez and Rogelio Mendoza (Community leaders from the Amazonia in Colombia).
Moreover, the OECD team extends their gratitude to the peer-reviewers who participated in missions and shared their experience: Carlaan Unger (United States Department of Interior); Patrice Kunesh, Director, Centre for Indian Country Development, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis; Sheilagh Murphy, Assistant Deputy Minister, Crown‑Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada; Richard Laverty, Chief Advisor, Office of the Chief Executive, Te Puni Kōkiri/Ministry of Māori Development; Staci Hare, Senior Policy Analyst, Te Puni Kōkiri/Ministry of Māori Development; Matilda Månsson (Sámi Parliament of Sweden); Anna-Marie Roberts (National Director of the Regional Network, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet); Dawn Madahbee Leach, Vice Chair of the National Indigenous Economic Development Board of Canada; Reggie “The Rifle” Leach, Ice Hockey Legend; Lars Anders Baer, Special Advisor, Sámi Parliament of Sweden; Louise Head (DG MARE, European Commission); and Gareth Hitchings (FedDev Ontario Canada).
The report was strongly enriched through comments, advice and engagement of the following people:
Carlo Rupnik (Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada); Christopher Duchesne (Indigenous Services Canada); Frank Richter (National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association); Max Skudra (Canadian Council of Aboriginal Business); Mark Sevestre (National Aboriginal Trust Officers Association); Jack Stevens, Director, Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development (IEED) (U.S. Department of the Interior); Inga Thoresson-Hallgren, Director General, Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation, Sweden; Maria Ahlsved (Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation, Sweden); Bilge Tekin-Befrits (Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation, Sweden); Astrid Öfverholm (Ministry of the Environment and Energy, Sweden); Lars-Marcus Kuhmunen (Ministry of Culture, Sweden); Sofie Hedenstjärna (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sweden); Ingela Nilsson (Sámi Parliament of Sweden); Alessandro Alasia, (Statistics Canada and Chair of RDPC Territorial Indicators Working Party); Richard Cormier (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Delegate to the OECD RDPC Rural Working Party); Kim Schultz, Senior Advisor, Australian Department of Premier and Cabinet; Susan Bergersen, NBY Chief Operating Officer, Broome, Western Australia; Kate Wilson (Rio Tinto Ltd.); Janina Gawler (Rio Tinto Ltd.); Bronwyn Bell (The Chamber of Minerals and Energy, Western Australia); Tom Weaver (FMG Group); Simon Corrigan (BHP); Jillian D'Urso (Minerals Council of Australia); Maria Teresa Orejuela, (Department of National Planning, Colombia); Flavia Noejovich, (Ministry of Inter-Cultural Affairs, Peru); Fiona Harford and Louise Head, (Directorate for Maritime Affairs, European Commission); Maya Alejandra Camacho Dávalos (Permanent Delegation of Mexico to the OECD); Ben (Pene) Matthews (Economic Wealth Head Office, Te Puni Kōkiri/Ministry of Māori Development); Brittany Noakes, (Second Secretary Australian High Commission to Canada); Grant Astles (Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Broome Office); Shirley Shephered (Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, East Arnhem and Groote Eylandt Section); Marie‑France Chouinard (Canadian Delegation to the OECD); Ksenia E. Shadrina (Economic Development Administration, US Department of Commerce); Dr Judith Winternitz (Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities, Australia); James Holman (Baniyala Garrangali Aboriginal Corporation); Rod Baker (Arnhem Beverage Company); Elle Merete Omma (EU Coordinator, Saami Council); and Mininguak Kleist, Head of Greenland Representation to the European Union.
The report benefitted from editorial review by Elenore Morena. Thanks are also extended to the team who contributed to the preparation of the manuscript: Jeanette Duboys and Pilar Philip; and to Kate Brooks and Elizabeth Radtke for communication, dissemination and social media support.