Title: Women entrepreneurs in Northern Canada: contexts and challenges

Authors: Barbara Orser; Allan Riding

Addresses: University of Ottawa Telfer School of Management, 55 Laurier Ave., E, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada ' University of Ottawa Telfer School of Management, 55 Laurier Ave., E, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada

Abstract: Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, Canada's three Northern territories, are characterised as the most northerly permanently inhabited regions in the world, and the least populous regions of Canada. It is not yet clear, what if any gender-related issues stymie the growth of female-owned Northern Canadian enterprises. This study presents a perspective on the contexts of, and challenges facing, female entrepreneurs in Northern Canada. To inform this work, the study draws on previous research, analyses of survey data, and interviews with 11 key informants conversant with entrepreneurship in Northern Canada. Findings are used to advance questions for future research about women's Indigenous (in the Canadian context, Aboriginal) and non-Indigenous (non-Aboriginal) entrepreneurship in Northern Canada.

Keywords: women entrepreneurs; female entrepreneurs; gender; entrepreneurship; indigenous peoples; Aboriginal; small business; business owners; SMEs; small and medium-sized enterprises; Canada; Inuit; Yukon; Northwest Territories; NWT.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2016.073984

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2016 Vol.27 No.2/3, pp.366 - 383

Received: 16 Apr 2015
Accepted: 18 Apr 2015
Published online: 31 Dec 2015 *

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