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Between a business and a social enterprise: The Norway House Fisherman’s Co-op, northern Manitoba, Canada

Durdana Islam (Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada)
Fikret Berkes (Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada)

Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy

ISSN: 1750-6204

Article publication date: 6 November 2017

514

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the function of an Indigenous commercial fishery at Norway House Cree Nation as a social enterprise, and to examine its potential to enhance community economic development.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was conducted in three phases, and the outcome of each phase was used as an input for the next phase. In the first phase, questionnaire surveys were administered among commercial fishing households. In the second phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with key informants, and in the third, with fisheries experts, food development experts and government officials.

Findings

Norway House Fisherman’s Co-op functions as a social enterprise mainly because commercial fishers contribute to local food security by sharing fish, and the Co-op operates additional businesses which contribute to job creation and community economic development.

Research limitations/implications

The study was carried out in only one community and commercial fishery from northern Manitoba, and the results will not be directly applicable elsewhere.

Practical implications

This research provides recommendations for further development of commercial fisheries at Norway House: fuller use of existing fish resources, value-added economic development and creative use of regulatory options.

Originality/value

The Co-op is identified as the engine of community development. It functions well, but there are additional opportunities for development, such as reducing the discard of lower value fish, which is consistent with indigenous Cree cultural values of not wasting resources.

Keywords

Citation

Islam, D. and Berkes, F. (2017), "Between a business and a social enterprise: The Norway House Fisherman’s Co-op, northern Manitoba, Canada", Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, Vol. 11 No. 5, pp. 530-546. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEC-06-2016-0018

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

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