The Aboriginal Peoples Business Association was established in 1985. It is a non-profit organization committed to assisting Aboriginal people in the pursuit of economic self-reliance. The Association provides a number of services including entrepreneurial training programs, a resource library available to the general public, and advisory services to clients who have secured funding through the First Citizens Program. Having an interest in economic development issues, the Association approached the Royal Commission and secured a contract to undertake a research study examining the issues which impede Aboriginal peoples' involvement in the business environment. The Association contacted a number of organizations, Bands, development corporations, to better understand the financial problems Indigenous people have and get an idea how the Association might help to alleviate some of these. The Aboriginal Peoples Business Association on June 17, 1993, submitted a report to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. The report identifies “the lack of equity within the Aboriginal community” as a hindrance to the economic wellbeing of Indigenous Peoples. The paper provided “the Commission with a background on the current conditions in B.C. and address the issues affecting and restricting Aboriginal peoples access to capital.” It identified current restrictions to Indigenous enterprises and possible solutions to create within Indigenous communities, “a viable economic base.” Although focused on BC, the paper is clear that the conclusions and recommendations could be extrapolated to other Indigenous communities in Canada.
1990-2000