Achieving Self-Sufficiency
Why Self-Sufficiency?
Self-sufficiency is not a new concept for people. For millennia, Indigenous people in Canada have lived sustainably by using local land and resources to provide for their sustenance. There is enough evidence of sophisticated political systems, unique cultures and languages, prosperous trade networks and strong local economies that once existed in many of these communities. All of this based on collective community needs, not individual wants. Industrialization and colonization, however, caused a disruption in the ways of life of many communities. It introduced a new worldview alongside practices and policies that were outright discriminatory per modern-day law. These practices created a form of dependency and destroyed many families over generations. Over time, it developed a capacity gap and systemic barriers in many communities. Not too long ago, Indigenous rights and titles received recognition by the Canadian legal system and things started changing. In other words, the process of recovery started not too long ago for many Indigenous communities in Canada.
Many Indigenous leaders fully understood, to become self-sufficient was to adapt and participate in the modern economic system without losing sight of their own spiritual, cultural and traditional values. Especially, in today’s times when climate change is affecting everyone regardless of who they are or where they live. These leaders knew that to become truly self-determining, they had to also become financially self-sufficient. That meant planning for long-term economic prosperity, creating wealth from their own resources, strengthening their governance systems, determining long-term plans, building local capacity, skills and knowledge, and continue to engage their members. All of this with the sole intention of sustaining their communities.
What is Self-Sufficiency?
Self sufficiency in general, and financial in particular, is a key component of overall self-sustainability of a community. It is an “ongoing” process of creating a system and an environment that encourages due process, fair guidelines, transparent decision-making, development of local capacity and knowledge transfer. It also means controlling costs while increasing own source revenues at a breakeven rate plus inflation. Many communities have historically relied on external funding agencies to provide for programs at grassroots, but such endeavors are simply not sustainable as it works against resiliency of people. It promotes anger, frustration, despair and dependency. It is imperative for a community’s overall well-being to move away from it and by generating their cycle of wealth, communities can become financially self-sufficient over time. In addition to generating revenues, communities can control economic leakages pertaining to people, food, energy and operational supplies by producing and consuming local goods and services.
Attaining Self-Sufficiency
Achieving self-sufficiency is easier said than done, especially in today’s consumer society. Without self generated wealth, financial or otherwise, a community cannot attain self-sufficiency. It can be done, though, establishing and promoting local businesses which create more work opportunities locally, expanding the revenue sharing agreements with other levels of governments, taxing businesses and developers on community lands. Reducing overall community costs and creating a collaborative environment that promotes fair and informed decision-making also leads to generation of wealth.