Anicinape Kicikan: A Pre-Forum Event on the Indigenous Social Economy was held this past October 17 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal (hall 511) as a kickoff activity for the International Forum on the Social and Solidarity Economy (FIESS): Government and Civil Society. Anicinape Kicikan had for its honorary chair the Right Honourable Paul Martin, who is known for his commitment to improve the living conditions of Aboriginal people in Quebec and Canada.

The main objective of Anicinape Kicikan was to bring together and mobilize Indigenous stakeholders to tackle the issues and challenges in developing an Indigenous social economy in Quebec, Canada and the Americas. Its specific objectives were to promote awareness of various initiatives in the Aboriginal social economy, foster the development of partnerships and influence public policy directions.

The Regroupement des centres d’amitié autochtones du Québec wishes to thank all those who made Anicinape Kicikan a resounding success, in particular the speakers who did a tremendous job in getting the message out to participants and the public about the positive effects being produced by the Aboriginal social economy in the work to improve the living conditions of Aboriginal people. Anicinape Kicikan also allowed us to showcase innovative Aboriginal initiatives in the social and solidarity economy in Quebec, Canada and the Americas, and to promote the development of public and private partnerships.

Special thanks go to the many dignitaries who attended this event, including the Right Honourable Paul Martin, who graciously accepted our invitation to serve as the pre-forum’s honorary chair and to steer the public conversation along with RCAAQ President Édith Cloutier and Assembly of First Nations of Labrador and Quebec Regional Chief Ghislain Picard.

We express our gratitude to Michèle Rouleau who, with her customary professionalism, served as facilitator of the Indigenous Pre-Forum and skillfully brought out the key elements of the different presentations.

Promoters of the Aboriginal social and solidarity economy also contributed by being on hand at the exhibitors’ hall organized as part of Anicinape Kicikan to help people learn about their products and services based on their experiences in collective entrepreneurship. Thank you for the energy you gave to this event. Our thanks also go to the nearly 300 participants for joining with us at this major event to promote the development of the Aboriginal social economy!

If you would like to obtain a copy of the participants’ booklet or if you have any questions, please contact Patricia Auclair at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Marie-Pierre Lainé at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . (Both of these addresses are protected against robot spammers; you must activate JavaScript for them to be viewed.) You can also reach Patricia and Marie-Pierre by telephone at (418) 842-6354.

Following is the agenda for ANICINAPE KICIKAN: PRE-FORUM EVENT ON THE INDIGENOUS SOCIAL ECONOMY : ANICINAPE_KICIKAN_PROGRAMMING.pdf

MULTI-MEDIA PRESENTATION
THE SOCIAL ECONOMY: DEFINITIONS AND ISSUES