E/CN.4/2005/88/Add.3 page 19 entrepreneurs and as managers of community-owned businesses. Levels of business formation have been high in recent years. About 10 per cent of Aboriginal people report business ownership or income from self-employment, which has increased markedly in the last decade, particularly among Aboriginal women. 76. There is no doubt that challenging opportunities have arisen for some Aboriginal people in Canada’s North in the framework of recent economic activities such as mining, especially diamond mines and oil and gas extraction, along with pipeline development. In the Northwest Territories, most of the Aboriginal groups potentially affected by a pipeline have some say in resource management and environmental issues through settled land claims. In other cases, however, potential benefits for local Aboriginal communities are by no means clear. 77. INAC reports that in the past 10 years, the number of new businesses created by Aboriginals has exceeded those created by other Canadians by 105 per cent. There are now 20,000 Aboriginally-owned businesses in Canada, spanning all sectors of the economy. In 2003-2004 in the Atlantic region, First Nations and Inuit communities received approximately Can$ 6 million in economic development funding. Through their companies, communities run regional airlines and are involved in forestry management, wood harvesting and processing. They run grocery stores and wholesale food distributing networks, motels, hotels, bowling alleys, golf courses and much more. 78. A notable success story is that of the Tribal Councils Investment Group of Manitoba, a company created by seven tribal councils in 1990, which owns interests in health management, beverage bottling and distilling, consumer outlets, banking, aviation, restaurants, and financial services. 79. Membertou Mi’kmaq First Nation in Nova Scotia is an example of a community investing funds in successful partnership with the private and public sectors, in mining, oil and gas, fishing, forestry, retail and professional services. The Special Rapporteur visited the community and observed the installations of an emerging industrial park on reserve land; he was also briefed by community leaders regarding the new employment and income opportunities for its members. Chief Terrance Paul explained that it was organized as a company to which all members of the community belonged, and that profits went to the community directly. Over the last quarter of a century, the population of the Membertou reserve has grown from around 300 people to over 1,000, and its land base has increased from 65 to 350 acres, while the number of housing units jumped from 56 to 218. Its main goal is to put an end to dependency on government handouts, based on a First Nation Progression Model that includes a multiple stage development plan. 80. INAC has applied a business approach to economic development programmes for Aboriginal communities. Its objective is to promote partnerships between these communities and private enterprises, with the various levels of government playing more or less a catalyzing role. According to the different regional circumstances, in some instances Aboriginal individuals may profit from their entrepreneurial activities, in others the Aboriginal community as a whole may become involved and may obtain collective benefits. Not all Aboriginal communities are equally well placed to take advantage of the global economy; in fact, most of them are unable to do so. The Special Rapporteur visited Aboriginal communities at both ends of the spectrum and realizes the difficulties involved in getting Aboriginal sustainable economic