Carol Anne Hilton - Indigenomics

Public Salon

19 Feb 201907:58

Summary

TLDRCarol Anne Hilton, a member of the Hesquiaht Nation and the Nuu chah nulth people, introduces the concept of Indigenomics, a movement that emphasizes the modern relevance of Indigenous worldviews and economies. Indigenomics seeks to address historical economic displacement and challenges faced by Indigenous communities, such as high poverty rates and marginalization. Hilton discusses the potential for economic empowerment, citing the significant contributions Indigenous businesses can make to Canada's GDP. She calls for a shift in narrative from viewing Indigenous peoples as a burden to recognizing them as economic powerhouses, with a vision to grow the Indigenous economy substantially.

Takeaways

🌟 The concept of 'Indigenomics' is introduced as a renaissance of First Nations' communities, emphasizing their central role in the economy and reconciliation.
👩‍💼 Carol Anne Hilton, a member of the Hesquiaht nation, is a key communicator and advocate for Indigenomics, which she defines as the conscious claim to the modern relevance of an indigenous worldview.
🏛️ Indigenomics is a platform to bring visibility to indigenous peoples and to challenge the historical narrative of economic displacement and marginalization.
📈 Despite facing systemic challenges, indigenous peoples are excelling and are seen as a powerful economic force, with the potential to significantly contribute to Canada's GDP.
🏢 The National Aboriginal Economic Development Board suggests that an optimized indigenous workforce could add $27 billion to Canada's GDP.
📊 There has been a significant growth in the indigenous economy, from $16 million in 2010 to $32 billion in 2016, indicating a powerful economic shift.
🏛️ The historical 'Indian problem' is redefined by Hilton as a modern representation of the struggle for economic justice and inclusion in the economic equation of the country.
🤝 Indigenomics calls for economic reconciliation, which involves understanding the role of indigenous peoples in the country and taking progressive action.
💡 The future of the country is shaped by the questions asked today, and Indigenomics is a response to facilitate the growth of the indigenous economy to $100 billion in five years.
🌐 Indigenomics is an invitation to participate in a collective modern economic response that focuses on the potential and the questions that define the present and future.

Q & A

What is Indigenomics?
-Indigenomics is the conscious claim to the modern relevance of an Indigenous worldview in today's economy. It is about creating space for Indigenous economic participation and growth.
Who is Carol Anne Hilton?
-Carol Anne Hilton is a leader and speaker on Indigenomics. She comes from the Hesquiaht Nation and Nuchatlaht people and identifies as the first generation not to attend residential school. She advocates for Indigenous economic empowerment.
Why is Indigenomics important in Canada?
-Indigenomics is important because Canada is in a treaty relationship with Indigenous peoples, and there are significant economic disparities, with 76% of Indigenous children living in poverty in certain regions. Indigenomics addresses the need for economic reconciliation and inclusion.
How has the concept of Indigenomics evolved?
-Indigenomics began as a hashtag but has grown into a movement focused on building visibility and creating space for Indigenous peoples within the economic framework of Canada.
What uncomfortable truth does Carol Anne Hilton highlight in her speech?
-Hilton discusses the uncomfortable truth that Indigenous peoples have faced over 150 years of economic displacement, which is reflected in negative statistics such as high poverty, suicide, and incarceration rates.
What historical policy does Hilton reference in her speech, and how does it relate to economic justice?
-Hilton references the 'Indian problem,' a concept formed by Duncan Campbell Scott, which historically excluded Indigenous peoples from Canada's economic system. Indigenomics seeks to rectify this exclusion by promoting economic justice.
What progress has been made by Indigenous peoples in Canada’s economic sphere?
-Indigenous peoples have won over 250 court cases that have helped create space for economic empowerment. Reports show that Indigenous economic contributions were valued at $32 billion in 2016, with potential for much more growth.
What is the goal for Indigenous economic growth according to Hilton?
-Hilton aims to grow the Indigenous economy from $32 billion in 2016 to $100 billion within five years, marking a significant shift in economic empowerment.
What does Hilton mean by 'economic reconciliation'?
-Economic reconciliation refers to addressing the gap between the negative lived realities of Indigenous peoples, such as poverty and marginalization, and their potential as economic powerhouses in Canada.
What is the central message of Hilton’s speech?
-Hilton’s central message is that Indigenous peoples are not a burden on Canada's economy but are, in fact, resilient and powerful contributors. Indigenomics is a platform for restoring this narrative and realizing Indigenous economic potential.

Outlines

00:00

🌱 The Indigenous Renaissance: Indigenomics and Economic Empowerment

Carol Anne Hilton introduces the concept of Indigenomics, a modern movement that integrates Indigenous worldviews into today's economy, promoting reconciliation and economic justice. She shares her personal journey, rooted in her heritage from the Hesquiaht nation and the Nuchatlaht people, reflecting on the painful history of residential schools and the Indian Act. Hilton emphasizes the resilience of Indigenous peoples, their exclusion from economic growth, and the importance of visibility and relevance in the modern economic space. Indigenomics aims to reverse centuries of marginalization by reclaiming economic space for Indigenous peoples, confronting Canada's past injustices, and fostering a platform for Indigenous economic participation and growth.

05:01

📊 The Indigenous Economic Shift: Power and Potential

The second paragraph focuses on the remarkable legal victories Indigenous peoples have achieved, with over 250 court cases won, creating an environment for economic empowerment. Reports highlight that optimizing the Indigenous workforce could add $27 billion to Canada's GDP, and the Indigenous economy grew from $16 million in 2010 to $32 billion in 2016. Hilton emphasizes the need for economic reconciliation and redefining Indigenous peoples not as a fiscal burden but as economic powerhouses. She calls for collective action to grow the Indigenous economy to $100 billion in the next five years and encourages participation in this transformative process. Economic reconciliation is framed as a key to reshaping Canada's future.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Indigenomics

Indigenomics refers to the economic empowerment and participation of indigenous peoples in the modern economy, asserting their worldview and values. In the video, Carol Anne Hilton discusses how Indigenomics is a response to historical marginalization and a way to shift the narrative from indigenous peoples being seen as a burden to being recognized as economic powerhouses. It is about creating visibility and a platform for indigenous economic growth and development.

💡Reconciliation

Reconciliation in this context is about addressing historical injustices and fostering a new relationship between indigenous peoples and the broader society. The video suggests that economic participation and recognition through Indigenomics are essential elements of this reconciliation process, allowing indigenous communities to take a central role in the economy and rectify past wrongs.

💡Economic Empowerment

Economic empowerment is the process of giving individuals or communities the authority and resources to control their own economic decisions and improve their well-being. In the video, Hilton speaks about the importance of economic empowerment for indigenous peoples, using Indigenomics as a means to achieve this by building indigenous businesses and contributing to the country's GDP.

💡Indigenous Worldview

An indigenous worldview encompasses the cultural, spiritual, and philosophical perspectives of indigenous peoples. The video emphasizes the importance of integrating this worldview into the modern economic framework, which is a key aspect of Indigenomics. It is about recognizing the value and relevance of indigenous knowledge and practices in contemporary society.

💡Economic Displacement

Economic displacement refers to the historical process where indigenous peoples were forcibly removed from their lands and resources, leading to economic marginalization. Hilton mentions this in the context of her own people's experience, highlighting the need for Indigenomics as a way to address and overcome this displacement.

💡Indian Act

The Indian Act is a set of Canadian laws that have historically governed the status, rights, and lives of indigenous peoples in Canada. Hilton discusses being the fifth generation since the establishment of the Indian Act, indicating the long-standing impact of these laws on indigenous communities and the struggle for economic justice and self-determination.

💡Resilience

Resilience is the ability to recover from or adapt to adversity. The video uses the term to describe the strength and determination of indigenous peoples to excel and succeed despite the challenges posed by historical and ongoing marginalization, as exemplified by the growth of indigenous businesses and court victories.

💡Economic Reconciliation

Economic reconciliation is the process of addressing economic disparities and injustices faced by indigenous peoples and integrating them into the economic mainstream on fair and equitable terms. Hilton discusses this as a necessary step for true reconciliation, where indigenous peoples are no longer seen as a burden but as contributors to the country's economic prosperity.

💡GDP

GDP, or Gross Domestic Product, is a measure of a country's economic output. In the video, Hilton cites a report suggesting that an optimized indigenous workforce could add $27 billion to Canada's GDP, illustrating the potential economic impact of fully integrating indigenous peoples into the economy through Indigenomics.

💡Indigenous Business

Indigenous business refers to enterprises owned and operated by indigenous peoples, which are often rooted in traditional knowledge and practices. The video highlights the growth of indigenous businesses as a key component of Indigenomics, emphasizing their importance in driving economic development and empowerment within indigenous communities.

💡Modern Indigenous Economic Design

Modern Indigenous Economic Design refers to the contemporary approaches and strategies for indigenous economic development that are rooted in indigenous values and worldviews. Hilton speaks about the need for such design to focus on the potential of indigenous peoples and to facilitate the growth of the indigenous economy, moving from the $32 billion in 2016 to a goal of $100 billion in five years.

Highlights

A renaissance is occurring in First Nations communities, with a focus on economic participation and reconciliation.

Indigenomics is introduced as a new concept, emphasizing the modern relevance of indigenous worldviews.

Carol Anne Hilton, a member of the Hesquiaht nation, discusses her personal and ancestral background.

Indigenomics is defined as a conscious claim to the economic space of indigenous peoples.

The concept of Indigenomics is linked to Canada's treaty relationships and the need for economic justice.

Indigenomics aims to shift the narrative from indigenous peoples as a burden to economic powerhouses.

Hilton discusses the historical context of economic displacement and the Indian Act's impact.

Indigenomics is presented as a platform to build visibility and economic empowerment for indigenous peoples.

The potential economic impact of an optimized indigenous workforce is highlighted, with a potential $27 billion addition to GDP.

Indigenous peoples have won over 250 court cases, creating space for economic empowerment.

The growth of indigenous business is emphasized as a rapidly growing and significant shift.

Hilton challenges the audience to consider the role of indigenous peoples within the country's economic framework.

The importance of asking powerful questions that shape the future of the country is discussed.

Economic reconciliation is positioned as a balance sheet issue for the country.

Indigenomics is described as a collective modern economic response and design.

A goal is set to grow the indigenous economy from $32 billion in 2016 to $100 billion in five years.

The call to action for engaging in Indigenomics and recognizing the leadership of indigenous peoples is made.