Fort Simpson (June 06/03) - Sitting among 35 businesspeople, Kevin Menicoche was one of the few aboriginals in the room.

Kevin Menicoche: Need exists for an aboriginal business association.

The NWT Chamber of Commerce held its annual general meeting at the Fort Simpson Visitors Information Centre last week. Menicoche attended many of the sessions but he's still advocating the formation of an aboriginal business association.

"The needs are different I believe," he said, adding that he feels aboriginal people take a holistic approach to business.

Such an association would identify and promote opportunities for aboriginal businesses, he explained. He added that the group, once formed, may be affiliated with the NWT Chamber of Commerce.

Co-owner of a Fort Simpson-based service sector company, Menicoche noted that aboriginal business associations exist in northern Alberta and northern B.C. Yet aboriginal business is expanding rapidly in all areas of the NWT without a representative body.

"We're so fragmented," he said. "It (an aboriginal business association) is going to happen because more and more people are saying it's got to be done."

Nick Sibbeston, a fellow aboriginal businessman who was present for last week's meetings, wasn't a proponent of the idea. Commerce, he said, is not race-based. Although aboriginal people should be encouraged to participate in business, they do not market their goods and services strictly for other aboriginal people, he noted.

"Is there value at looking at things in an aboriginal way or are we beyond that? Is business neutral?" he said.

Sibbeston also questioned whether people would devote the time and energy needed to create such an entity.

In a speech last week, Jim Antoine, minister of Economic Development and Aboriginal Affairs, challenged chamber members to include more aboriginal companies among their ranks.

"Make no mistake, your voice is strong already but it will be even stronger," said Antoine.

Denise Burlingame, president of the NWT Chamber, told delegates that outreach to aboriginal businesses is "something we absolutely should focus on."