Fourteen Nisga'a youth in the Nass Valley will be finishing a pilot program aimed at building young entrepreneurs for the area this month. With the help of facilitators, participants are learning the skills and qualities needed to be successful in today's business.

The program started in the late spring. It includes eight days of instruction over the course of the program. Information is also available online.

Dr. Brent Mainprize is a faculty member at Royal Roads University who teaches entrepreneurship, new venture creation and business planning. He's leading the program. Mainprize says the aim is to help build skills in the community to help the youth start thinking about launching their own ventures and plugging into the opportunity offered in the Nass Valley. "The concept [of the program] is, most of these participants will launch a business out of this, if they haven't done so already," he said.

Mainprize says what has really been important is matching participants' passions with their skillset. The facilitators have been encouraging the participants to look inside themselves and find what their strengths and passions are. Next comes a way to make money out of it.

An important focus of the program is how to start business in the Nass Valley and keep the wealth the business creates in the community. Mainprize says there is no reason the youth can't start businesses in the Nass and keep money in the area. Having these youth take an initiative will also set a good example for the younger generation - “We’re really looking at building economic capacity in the area”.

Everything changes quickly these days. Business owners will need new knowledge and skills so their business can grow. In addition to business specific skills the program has also been exploring ways to provide pathways to education.

Some participants were already running successful businesses and looking to find ways to expand while others were in the business planning stage.

The program was free of charge. There is the possibility of a followup camp next year, which may include Nisga’a youth not situated in the Nass Valley. Contact Paul Mercer at NLG for information.