10 Title: ABOUT THE CRAWFORD CHAIR CASE STUDIES

About the Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business Studies

The Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business Studies was established at Cape Breton University in 2010 in response to Aboriginal community leaders’ expression of the need for entrepreneurship, business investment, and corporate skills training for the purpose of creating a model of self-reliance. Named in honour of Canadian lawyer and corporate boardroom leader, the late Mr. Purdy Crawford, the Chair aims to promote interest among Canada’s Aboriginal people in the study of business at the post-secondary level.

The Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business Studies focuses its work in four areas:
• Research on what “drives” success in Aboriginal Business
• National student recruitment in the area of post-secondary Aboriginal business education
• Enhancement of the post-secondary Aboriginal business curriculum
• Mentorship at high school and post-secondary levels

Mary Beth Doucette currently holds the position of Purdy Crawford Chair and Associate Professor, Aboriginal Business Studies in the Shannon School of Business at Cape Breton University.
The Chair is an independently funded, partially endowed research Chair.

About the Cases in this Te Entrepreneurship 11 12 Course Pack

Each of the case stories was produced with permission of the Entrepreneurs profiled. They should not be changed without the permission of the Entrepreneur.

The case stories in this section were compiled with the financial support of the Province of Nova Scotia. They were formatted to complement the existing curriculum for Indigenous Entrepreneurship 11 and 12 Courses by providing locally relevant and subject specific concepts that were not covered elsewhere. The concepts highlight L’nu words, teachings, and context of Mi’kmaw in Nova Scotia, however given the political relationships that exist between L’nu and the Federal Government, they also describe influences of broad reaching Indigenous -Canada discourses. All of the materials for this project were developed with support of Dr. Tasha Richard (Dal, Agricultural Campus), and students Victoria Dimmek, MSc., Ester Alu, BBA, Nicole Cammeart, BA, and Mairi Denny, BA.

Teaching notes were also developed to accompany each case. They provide additional contextual background and recommendations for instructors who are using the cases in their classes. The teaching notes are guidelines and can and should be altered for the context.

Author(s): Esther Alu, Dr. Mary Beth Doucette

© The Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business Studies, 2024
Contact: Dr. Mary Beth Doucette
Purdy Crawford Chair in
Aboriginal Business Studies
Shannon School of Business
Cape Breton University
1250 Grand Lake Rd, Box 5300
Sydney, NS B1P 6L2