A few pictures from the daily operations at the CAAC!
Enjoy!
Fred Takes a Break at The CAAC Business Studio
Jon Dries a T-Shirt
Masking the screens
Take part in a 6 week course – starting February 8th
Training Location
The upcoming CAAC Business Studio is located at Wilson H2 Ranch, Woodville, Ontario. This is 40 minutes north of Oshawa and 40 minutes south of Rama. For more information on the location, visit the Wilson H2 Ranch website.
There is a full screen-print shop/practice firm, teaching lab, and a horse stable for the Equine Assisted Education portion of the program. You can view the ranch information at WilsonH2Ranch.ca. The CAAC Business Studio website is currently under construction.
See the flyer for more details!
Seven Grandfather Kiosks Project Blog Link
Visit the Seven Grandfather Kiosks Project Blog for more information on our sister project!
The CAAC Business Studio Project Backgrounder
The Canadian Aboriginal Arts & Communications (CAAC) Business Studio is a Social Community Enterprise that consists of a Training Program and Practice Firm.
The Ontario Native Literacy Coalition has developed this project based upon the foundational premise that Aboriginal people are traditionally inclined to express themselves through images and stories. Through The CAAC Business Studio, participants will be provided an avenue to draw upon their natural interests and talents to build skills and future employment/entrepreneurship opportunities. Throughout each participant’s involvement with The CAAC Business Studio, their own artistic abilities will be utilized as a fundamental base for building skills in arts, technology, trades, business, employability and potential entrepreneurship. Training will include but not be limited to: graphics and designs, illustration, colour theory, textile printing, production, marketing and sales, business applications, communications, and essential skills.
The mandate of The CAAC Business Studio will be to deliver training and provide employment/business experience to Aboriginal individuals, with a strong emphasis on youth and women. This project is dedicated to improving the self-sufficiency of Aboriginal people, including women and youth. Direct links will be made with all of the ONLC member programs, to provide full details of the training program and practice firm, market The CAAC Business Studio to individuals who participate as learners in the programs, and share curriculum resources as appropriate. The CAAC Business Studio will assist in preparing individuals who participate in the program with opportunities to secure employment, along with a concentrated effort on helping and supporting would-be-entrepreneurs with the implementation of self-employment initiatives within respective communities.
The innovative approach of The CAAC Business Studio is to enable individuals to gain knowledge while gaining “In the Business-Hands On” experience in the ‘practice firm’. Beyond training, participants will work hands on to develop marketing materials, prospect, secure contracts and fulfill contracts.
As a Social Community Enterprise, The CAAC Business Studio will return financial benefits to communities. The Ontario Native Literacy Council will utilize profits from the activities to support services to the 26 community-based Native literacy programs in Ontario that are members of ONLC. This funding will benefit the member agencies through additional resources and create economic activities in Ontario.
This project is occurring simultaneously with a ‘sister’ project also funded through the AWPI Program, entitled “The Seven Grandfather Kiosks: An Aboriginal Social Enterprise & Employment/Entrepreneurship Project”. This Kiosk project will provide The CAAC Business Studio with a confirmed and dedicated distribution outlet for products, and will allow for integration and cross-participation for the target Aboriginal population that these projects serve. Both projects are independent, yet together create synergy that will allow both social enterprises to provide Aboriginal participants with skills and experiences that lead to fulfillment and self-sufficiency, as well as provide ONLC and the participating member organizations an opportunity to earn unrestricted revenue to support their missions.
Press Release: Ontario Native Literacy Coalition Supports its Membership with Two Innovative Projects
Ontario Native Literacy Coalition (ONLC) is moving forward into 2011 with two new and innovative projects that will provide “In-The-Business” training and practical experience for Aboriginal individuals in Ontario, as well as tools and models of social enterprise for ONLC and its Member Literacy Programs. Through the Aboriginal Workforce Participation Initiative of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), ONLC has received $224,603 for The Canadian Aboriginal Arts & Communications (CAAC) Business Studio, and $238,350 for the Seven Grandfather Teachings Kiosks. Confirmation of the grant approval was received in November 2010. Project work is underway and will be completed by March 31, 2011. As these projects move forward, a strong focus will be directed to securing further funding and planning for further phases of the projects to create long-term sustainability.
Through The CAAC Business Studio, participants will be provided an avenue to draw upon their natural interests and talents to build skills and future employment/entrepreneurship opportunities. The CAAC Business Studio will operate as a ‘Practice Firm’, where participants will gain hands-on experience producing promotional products. Participants’ artistic abilities will be utilized as a fundamental base for building skills in arts, screen-printing, technology, trades, business, employability and entrepreneurship. The CAAC Business Studio will supply the products for The Seven Grandfather Teachings Kiosks.
The Seven Grandfather Teachings Kiosks Project will provide an opportunity for future Native entrepreneurs to gain business training and experience. Throughout each participant`s’ involvement with The Seven Grandfather Teachings Kiosks, their own trading abilities will be utilized as a fundamental base for building skills in retailing, business, merchandising, employability and entrepreneurship. The Kiosks will retail a variety of products that will vehicle Aboriginal culture and traditions, initially focusing on the Seven Grandfather Teachings, and then expanding to the Water Teachings, the Seven Environmental Teachings and Native art developed within the communities that the Kiosks are placed. The Kiosks will be piloted in the communities of three ONLC Member Literacy Programs.
Both projects are independent, yet together create synergy that will allow both social enterprises to provide Aboriginal participants with skills and experiences that lead to fulfillment and self-sufficiency, as well as provide ONLC and the participating member organizations an opportunity to earn unrestricted revenue to support their missions.
Individuals interested in participating in either of the programs are encouraged to contact the Project Team by email at: onlcprojects@gmail.com.
ONLC would like to express its gratitude to INAC for the approval of these funding applications as important initiatives within the Aboriginal literacy community in Ontario. For more information about INAC, please visit http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/ai/index-eng.asp. Further details regarding INAC’s Aboriginal Workforce Participation Initiative (AWPI) can be found at
http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/emp/ae/awp/index-eng.asp
