Study Centre for Indigenous People’s Economic Autonomy
The Study Centre for Indigenous People’s Economic Autonomy (IPEA Study Centre) brings together Indigenous and academic expertise with the aim of developing shared knowledge that meets the needs of Indigenous Peoples.
Focusing on collaboration between academic and non-academic groups (Indigenous local governments, public authorities, Indigenous organizations, research teams), its mission is to democratize and develop knowledge and skills to strengthen Indigenous entrepreneurship and economic development.
In operation since 2019, the IPEA Study Centre is formed of a team of specialists in issues specific to First Nations and Inuit. We work closely with our Indigenous partners in a spirit of co-construction and knowledge sharing.
The IPEA Study Centre was formerly known as the Economic Autonomy for First People and Inuit (EAFPI) Study Centre.
Discover « Build your dream », a guide to inuit entrepreneurship, created by the IPEA Study Centre
Available in English and Inuktitut, this guide is the result of months of research and meetings with Inuit entrepreneurs to identify their needs and challenges, as well as the values and opportunities surrounding entrepreneurship in Nunavik. We hope that this guide will help many navigate through the various stages of starting their own business and making their dreams come true.
Our current projects
Indigenous women’s entrepreneurship
To this day, very few studies have been conducted on Indigenous women’s entrepreneurship in Quebec.
This project will be divided into two parts. The first will provide an assessment of support programs for Indigenous women’s entrepreneurship in Canada and other Commonwealth countries. The second component will consist of qualitative research on First Nations women entrepreneurs in Quebec and their role in their communities’ economic development and in passing on traditional values through their businesses.
Documentary series on the contribution of the Indigenous economy to Quebec’s economy
The “Documentary series on the contribution of the Indigenous economy to Quebec’s economy” project aims to create a new intercultural and multidisciplinary research partnership for the co-construction, mobilization and dissemination of knowledge on the contribution of Indigenous economy to Quebec’s economy. The main objectives of the project are, firstly, to consolidate and advance knowledge on the contribution of indigenous economy to Quebec’s economy. Secondly, we wish to explore, co-construct and structure research using a documentary format as a methodology, with the aim of achieving intercultural and multidisciplinary epistemic justice.