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Produced in co-operation with Kwakiutl District Council, Wawatay Native Communications Society Inc., and a nationwide network of Aboriginal advisors, The Spirit Lives is a series of six half-hour video programs and a 72-page User's Guide for Aboriginal teachers, trainers, and economic development officers to assist the delivery of entrepreneurship instruction.

The videos profile approximately 30 Aboriginal entrepreneurs who were selected through a process involving input from a nationwide network of aboriginal advisors representing business, education, and economic development. The entrepreneurs profiled have created and launched new, innovative ventures through traditional and non-traditional enterprises. They reflect a wide variety of Aboriginal people, languages, and cultures and include male, female, old, young, rural, and urban case studies.

Program 1 introduces entrepreneurship and the nature of the entrepreneurial character and spirit. Program 2 focuses on the "process" involved in entrepreneurship and on the skills that are important. Program 3 deals with opportunities — the need, want, or problem that has not been addressed or that can be addressed more effectively. Program 4 focuses on entrepreneurial ideas and how they are generated to address perceived opportunities. Program 5 looks at the importance of planning and its role in detecting and avoiding or minimizing problems. The entrepreneurs featured in Program 6 are motivated primarily by a desire to respond to the needs of their people in their communities.

The Spirit Lives was sponsored by a consortium of federal and provincial government departments and private sector corporations and foundations and has been endorsed and supported by Aboriginal training, development, and education officers and associations across Canada.

Partners: Kwakiutl District Council; Wawatay Native Communications Society Inc.; Aboriginal Business Canada, Industry Canada; Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency; British Columbia Ministry of Small Business, Tourism and Culture; Canada-Alberta Partnership Agreement on Business and Community Development; Government of Canada, Canadian Studies Program, Canadian Heritage; National Aboriginal Management Board; Indian and Northern Affairs Canada; New Brunswick Advanced Education and Labour; New Brunswick Education; Vancouver Foundation; Canada Post Corporation; Placer Dome Canada Limited; The Toronto-Dominion Bank; TransAlta Utilities; TransCanada PipeLines