Dawn Madahbee Leach has been
with the Waubetek Business
Development Corporation since
its beginnings in 1988.
In that time as the general manager,
she has seen the organization fulfill its
vision.
“When Waubetek first started, one of
the first things we did was undergo a
visioning exercise, where we collectively
envisioned prosperous healthy communities
with comfortable homes, decent
community infrastructure, and people
working,” said Madahbee Leach. “That
is a vision we have always been working
towards in all that we do. I can tell you
with much pride that we’ve come to see
much of this vision realized.”
The First Nation-owned and operated
business financing and economic
development organization operates from
Birch Island on the Whitefish River First
Nation, which connects Manitoulin to
the mainland. They serve First Nations
communities and Aboriginal clients
throughout northeastern Ontario.
They’ve seen their clientele grow from
a handful of small business owners, to
a thriving sector providing employment
throughout the region, in First Nations
and in the surrounding communities.
“We have always believed that there is
a lot of potential, there is a lot of opportunity
and there are services needed. We
needed jobs for our people and when we
started the organization, we were at more
than 80 percent unemployment,” said
Madahbee Leach. “So we put together a
strategy and business plan to address the
need for capital to help people start businesses
and become self-employed. We
made the business case and started out
with a loan fund of $150,000.”
Today, the communities they work
with have the unemployment rate down
to 14 percent, and Waubetek’s grown
from four employees to 14. They have
invested over $70 million in more than
3,000 Aboriginal businesses with a success
rate that is higher than the national
average.
Madahbee Leach credits much of the
success to Waubetek’s board and founders.
“Our board is comprised of respected
individuals with strong business and economic
backgrounds who come together
to provide the best services we can to our
clients. When they deliberate around our
board table, they always consider the best
interests of the clients.,” said Madahbee
Leach. “It is the Aboriginal business community
that we have the honour of working
with every day. They overcome many
challenges to do what they do.”
While fulfilling its original vision,
Waubetek has also witnessed change.
“There are a few changes that have
occurred over the year. We have implemented
regional strategies on tourism,
fisheries and mining to support our businesses
in these sectors. We also focus on
Aboriginal youth employment programming
where, through summer jobs programs,
we help to equip up to 60 youth
a year with marketable job skills and
life skills,” explained Madahbee Leach.
“It has really helped our young people
gain the confidence and skills they need
to participate meaningfully in the workforce.”
So far 440 youth have completed
the program, boosting high school graduation
rates to 95 per cent amongst those
who complete the program, compared to
60 per cent who don’t.
The service to youth is part of
Waubetek’s vision for the future. Some
of these youth, and some of Waubetek’s
most recent clients, are now third generation
clients.
“Many of our new clients have been
raised in a business atmosphere and
home which nurtures the entrepreneurial
spirit…it’s a profound milestone,” said
Madahbee Leach.
“As I look out the window here I see
paved streets, I see beautiful community
buildings, with very healthy children
playing outside. I won’t say it’s all a result
of Waubetek, but I think we’ve had a
small part in that.”