Indigenous peoples and communities conducted the first trade-based economies across North America, beginning thousands of years ago. The Indigenous economy has always been based on equitable relationships between people and place, and acts of mutual reciprocity. Sadly, much has changed since colonization. Can you give some background on how trade in Southern Ontario was conducted prior to European arrival, and how did European arrival impact Indigenous communities after the 1600’s?
About Ryan Barberstock
Ryan ‘Rye’ Barberstock is a co-founder, and the Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of Okwaho Equal Source. Rye has an extensive background in Indigenous relations and community business development. He has held senior communications and leadership positions at the National Indigenous Organization level and senior leadership and capacity building roles in First Nations communities in southwestern Ontario. Rye is the former co-chair of the Indigenous Knowledge and Learning Working Group at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario and received formal training by the Rotman School of Management in Design thinking and Advanced Business Design. Rye was also an Indigenous Innovator-in-Residence at the former Innovation, Science and Economic Development (ISED) Lab in Ottawa and is a recognized Indigenous relations, social innovation, and Indigenous business development advisor. He is also a co-facilitator for the Kwe-Biz Indigenous women’s program and founder of Startup Kenhteke. Rye is currently completing his Ph.D. at Queen’s University in Geography and Planning, with a research focus on Indigenous economy and cultural resurgence in the Dish with One Spoon treaty territory. Rye is Haudenosaunee and a member of Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, located in Tyendinaga (pronounced Tie End In Egg Ah) Mohawk Territory, Ontario.
