In the first part of this paper, the economic development objectives, strategies, and structures adopted by First Nations of Canada are examined, and seven significant characteristics are identified. In the second, current theories on economic development are considered, and a contingency perspective is proposed that addresses First Nations economic development within the global economic system. In the third part, the forestry‐related development activities of a particular group of First Nations ‐the Meadow Lake Tribal Council ‐ and its joint venture with a major pulp firm Millar Western, Ltd., are described, and the relevance of the proposed contingency perspective is considered. The paper concludes with comments about the potential for the contingency perspective as a theoretical framework for the economic development activities of the First Nations in Canada in a post‐Fordist
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