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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A new group promoting aboriginal businesses in the North kicked off its membership drive last week.

The Northern Aboriginal Business Association (NABA) drew dozens from the Northern business community to the group's first official event.

Darrell Beaulieu, one of several founding directors of the Northern Aboriginal Business Association, told an audience last week that it seems every time he turns on the television, he hears about how bad the economy is - but there are some "bright lights" in the reporting. He encouraged aboriginal businesses to become those bright lights, saying businesses themselves are the only ones who can do something about fixing the economy. - Lauren McKeon/NNSL photo

NABA was founded in October, 2007 during the NWT Aboriginal Business Conference. The pan-territorial aboriginal business organization's mandate is to enhance and promote the Northern aboriginal economy.

To date, the group has 47 members but it is looking for more - hence the drive to boost membership and raise awareness of the group's benefits. If the packed conference room at the Explorer Hotel was any indication, NABA is likely to gain the added members.

"This is a concept and an organization whose time has come," said Bob McLeod, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment for the GNWT.

Aboriginal businesses in the North have become so successful and prevalent, the term is almost superfluous, he added.

"The term 'aboriginal business' is almost redundant - like specifying it's -40 in January," he said.

But nothing tops off success better than more success.

"I hope this association will ignite passion for entrepreneurship (among aboriginals)," said Dettah Chief Ed Sangris.

Sangris added he hoped NABA would help aboriginals share their business models and build business liaisons based on aboriginal values.

"We will be leaders in the emerging Northern economy," he said, adding "it's up to us to define the future for all of the North."

Even though anyone who so much as glances at the evening news knows the global economic future in general looks shaky, McLeod said "Markets will return, new markets will be found and when that happens we need to be ready."

He urged Northern and aboriginal business members in attendance to work together and prepare for the economic rebound.

This is something Darrell Beaulieu, president of the Denendeh Development Corp and one of several NABA founding directors, already knows.

The downturn is "affecting us. We're the only ones that can do something about it," he said.

Sometimes all that's needed to find a rare bright light in the crisis, he added, is for businesses and business people to show some ingenuity, work hard enough for it and go after it.

The event's keynote speaker was Northeastern Alberta Aboriginal Business Association president Nicole Bourque-Bouchier, who described her organization's success with her Northern counterparts.

The conference was broadcast to all 30 communities in the North.