Ms. Dawn Madahbee Leach (Board Chair, National Indigenous Economic Development Board, National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association) at the Government Operations and Estimates Committee

I'm speaking to you today as the manager of the Waubetek Business Development Corporation, which is one of the 50-plus indigenous financial institutions in Canada that invests in indigenous businesses. Over the past 38 years, Waubetek has invested more than $150 million in indigenous businesses, achieving a business success rate of 97%. From the beginning, our applicants have had to provide proof of indigeneity. This ensures that the financing we provide goes directly to verified indigenous businesses. We have never accepted self-identification.