Aboriginal entrepreneurs encouraged to work together at first business gala STEPHENVILLE FRANK GALE The Western Star

Three aboriginal entrepreneurs/artisans were among the 64 aboriginal entrepreneurs honoured at a business gala in Stephenville on Saturday night. From left, Scott Butt, Nicole Glover and Nora Ann Glover are seen behind Butt’s carving entitled “The Final Purge.” – Star photo by Frank Gale

As an entrepreneur, Scott Butt took great pride in being honoured as one of more than 60 people in the first ever Aboriginal Business Gala held at the Royal Canadian Legion in Stephenville Saturday evening.

As an artisan, Butt takes even more pride in sharing his talents — which he considers a gift from his ancestors — with others.

The Aboriginal Community/Business Advisory Committee, which is a sub-committee of the Long Range Economic Development Corporation, organized the gala to recognize the contribution of aboriginal businesses in the Port au Port, Bay St. George and Burgeo areas.

Two other artisans, Nicole Glover and Nora Ann Glover of Flat Bay Brook, were also praised for their traditional artistry. Nicole does burnings on hide and carvings on wood and antler, while Nora Ann does beadwork, jewelry, dream catchers and circle mandalas.

Butt, who has been an artist for about 17 years, creates wood and antler carvings, furniture with carvings embedded, along with traditional objects including, staffs and drums. Some of his drums are wrapped with burned hides prepared by Nicole.

Asked his thoughts on the business gala event, Butt said it shows their spirits have been awakened, and they can gather as proud aboriginal people to recognize their own accomplishments.

“Aboriginals have always been self-sufficient and did for ourselves, so it’s only natural our people move on today in business and in art,” he said. “By producing our art, we’re showing this gift to others by bringing our talent and the teachings we’ve been given. It’s the energy and emotion we share with others.”

Butt brought one his carvings he entitled “The Final Purge,” to be displayed at the gala. The work features an aboriginal man bent backwards in modern day clothing holding a beer bottle. From the chest area a native aboriginal holding a feather is featured.

The lower portion represents a person who has fallen to substance abuse, and represents the negative effects of contact on aboriginal people and as he dies, at the moment of his last breath, he is purged from the bondage of his body to return to the ancestors.

“It demonstrates there is hope no matter where you’re at — even at your dying breath — as you still have your strong aboriginal spirit which can be awakened,” Butt said.

Anne Hart, committee chair, said 64 aboriginal operated businesses were recognized Saturday night, but is confident there are more aboriginal entrepreneurs in the area.

“The problem is that we don’t have a proper data base of businesses in the area, but it’s something we’re working on and hope to be the first to have an updated version in place,” she said.

The evening demonstrated entrepreneurship is alive and strong in the aboriginal community. Most people in attendance believed such an event was too long in coming.

“The night was not just about recognition, but also to encourage those in the aboriginal community with businesses to work together and support one another,” Hart said. “The event showed young aboriginal people they can become entrepreneurs and aboriginal businesses can get a lot from their culture.”