Indigenous Consulting
GNPCI is proud to serve a number of Indigenous communities across Canada, with a focus on profitability, operational efficiency, and long-term sustainability. The majority of our clients are based in British Columbia and Alberta.
We specialize in advising communities on their economic development by helping them establish, expand, and optimize new and existing businesses to increase Own Source Revenues. By utilizing federal or provincial grant funding and First Nation tax benefits, these businesses have the potential to be more profitable because they don’t require the levels of capital investment and tax needed by non-Indigenous businesses.
“We understand the cultural sensitivities and barriers that communities face…”
We understand the cultural sensitivities and barriers that communities face when dealing with external stakeholders, which may limit a community’s ability to reach their goals. We frequently act as an intermediary, ensuring negotiations align with community interests and resolving intractable problems. Our focus is on helping Indigenous clients realize their economic potential, without compromising core community values such as stewardship of the land and environmental sustainability.
In-sourced Team
At GNPCI, we act as an ‘in-sourced’ team for Indigenous clients. Our flexible approach allows us to work alongside communities to provide customized, hands-on support across their portfolios in a way that is often harder to achieve through larger firms with prohibitive charging structures.
Our services broadly fall into the following categories:
- Reviews and turnaround of existing businesses
- Due diligence, advisory and deal support
- Strategic economic development planning and governance
- New business sourcing and development
Valued Services
Reviews and turnaround of existing businesses
One of the first things we look at when instructed by a community is the efficiency and profitability of their existing businesses. GNPCI encourages an open dialogue and works with leadership to identify inefficiencies, improve operations, and increase profitability.
Due diligence, advisory and deal support
Our team has backgrounds in accounting, financial consulting and corporate finance. Due diligence on new businesses is, therefore, a key strength that Indigenous communities typically do not have access to via an in-house team.
Strategic economic development planning and governance
We help communities develop long-term economic strategies, including 3-5 year strategic plans backed by investment strategies and supportive governance structures.
New business sourcing and development
We ensure that everyone on our team understands how to identify and evaluate opportunities that align with the community’s financial objectives and cultural values. Our approach includes considering impact on employment, deep connections with the land and environment, and developing business opportunities that the whole community (including youth and elders} can support and buy into.
Indigenous Businesses
Example projects that we have worked on with our clients include:
- Forestry Contracts and Agreements
- Mining Contracts and Agreements
- Oil & Gas Contracts and Agreements
- Gas station turnaround and due diligence
- Purchase of trucking, mining and forestry companies
- Assessment of cannabis opportunities
- Commercial land development
- Hotel purchase and renovation
- Development of affordable housing
- Bison ranch feasibility
- Implementation of a bioproducts facilities