South Island Indigenous Business Directory

In 2019, the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) started a local Indigenous business directory identifying Indigenous businesses interested in working with GVHA and its partners. The directory grew slowly over time with more businesses added monthly. Many organizations and companies began expressing an interest in Indigenous procurement on the South Island.
In 2022, the City of Victoria; led by Quinn Anglin, Manager of Economic Development, GVHA, South Island Prosperity Partnership, and the Capital Regional District joined together to create the South Island Indigenous Business Directory, a listing of Indigenous businesses located in the southern region of Vancouver Island. These businesses are varied, offering services from graphic design and catering to engineering and project management. The Victoria Chamber of Commerce also joined in late 2022 as a community partner.
The Indigenous Business Directory is a listing of self-identified Indigenous businesses. Organizations and companies using this listing are responsible for their own use of this directory, including adherence to their respective procurement policies, contractual obligations, and vetting processes.
The online directory was built by Animikii, a local Indigenous-owned company that builds custom software, web-applications, and websites. The Animikii team works with leading Indigenous groups across North America to implement tech solutions for social, economic, and cultural initiatives.
The Indigenous Business Directory is not an exhaustive list, and it is continuously being updated as we learn more about Indigenous businesses working in the South Island. The goal was to have 50 businesses registered with the site when we launched in June of 2023, which we were successful in achieving.
The new South Island Indigenous Business Directory provides new opportunities for relationships, growth and partnership between community members and the many Indigenous-owned businesses across the region, to find opportunities to procure more goods and services from these businesses and to support the greater goal of Indigenous economic reconciliation.
Every day, we procure goods and services that help to keep some of the region’s most treasured places thriving. Whether it is ordering new compost bins at Fisherman’s Wharf or commissioning a local artist to beautify the Victoria Cruise Terminal at The Breakwater District, we want to ensure that our decisions are embedded in sustainable procurement practices. For us, this means not only taking into consideration the environment, but also supporting local Indigenous businesses.
Indigenous economic reconciliation takes time and effort. It takes a willingness to decolonize procurement processes and a commitment to support and promote Indigenous businesses.
This directory is one piece of our individual organization’s procurement processes. We each have social procurement goals, procurement policies and processes that guide our organizations. We are committed to Indigenous economic reconciliation and see Indigenous procurement as a key element of this important work and look forward to learning more through this journey while continuing to see the directory grow over time.
Learn more about the directory or sign up here: HOME — South Island Indigenous Business Directory (indigenousbusinessdirectoryvi.com)