CPABC in Focus November/December 2014 | Page 42

Q&A Why do you recommend that young aboriginals should go into fields like accounting and business, instead of, say, law? Harold: The body of work involved in constitutional amendments, the body of work that has been created through the various Supreme Court decisions has now established some principles in the law. We do have rights; we do have title; government has duties to consult and accommodate. The challenge that we face today, is how do we implement those rights in light of the major resource opportunities across Canada? How can First Nations participate and receive fair accommodation for their title interests? What we need now are people who understand how to engage and participate in the mainstream economy on many different levels, whether it be resource development, real estate development, you name it. We need entrepreneurs. What we lost through the colonization was an entrepreneurial class. “What we need now are people who understand how to engage and participate in the mainstream economy on many different levels...” Are First Nations bands and Aboriginal people at large bec