The Yukon First Nations Business Registry is a publicly accessible listing of Yukon First Nations businesses. It’s a key component of the Yukon First Nations Procurement Policy (see page 28 in the linked procurement policy): an initiative to encourage Yukon First Nations and non-Yukon First Nations businesses to partner together.
The registry connects Yukon First Nations businesses with government procurement authorities and makes it easier to explore potential business opportunities.
This project will have multiple phases. For this 1st phase, we built, tested and launched the registry in just over 2 months.
Search the Yukon First Nations Business Registry
User research and project goals
All of our projects begin with user research. As a government, we are often clear about what our organizational needs are, but we also have to understand what public users need. eServices always conducts user research so that we can understand the whole picture, and from different sides.
We collaborated with the Yukon First Nation Chamber of Commerce and this was helpful as they brought the unique perspectives of the Yukon First Nations business community to the project.
These insights and our user research translated into these project goals. We wanted to build a registry that:
- provided Yukon First Nations business owners with a way to add their business information to the registry;
- ensured administrators from the Government of Yukon and the Yukon First Nation Chamber of Commerce had a secure way to review and approve the submissions; and
- provided users with multiple ways to search for a First Nations business.
A way for Yukon First Nations businesses to add their information to the registry
A main goal for us was to give business owners a way to add their information to the registry.
We’ve included guidance to help First Nations business owners determine if their business meets the procurement policy’s definition of a Yukon First Nations business. If they meet the definition, they can add their business details using the online registration form.
A back-end for administrators to review and approve information
Another goal was to create an easy-to-use back-end so Government of Yukon and Yukon First Nation Chamber of Commerce staff can securely administer the registry. Administrators are able to:
- review the submissions; and
- approve the submission to publish the page on the registry.
Multiple ways to search the registry
Our last goal was to create ways for users to explore and search the registry. It was important to the project team to give users multiple ways to see:
- which businesses are available;
- what products or services they provide; and
- where they’re located.
As a result, users can:
- browse the complete list that appears on the registry home page;
- use the search bar; or
- filter the businesses on the registry home page by:
- First Nations;
- Traditional Territory; or
- location.
Next steps
The project team is closely monitoring user feedback from the public as well as from those who administer the service. We’ll continue improving user experiences as the registry evolves.
In the coming weeks, we’ll be conducting broader user testing.
In fact, if you’re a Yukon First Nations business owner and you’re interested in participating in a remote session let us know.
Email eservices@yukon.ca – we’d love to hear what you think about your experience registering on or using the Yukon First Nations Business Registry.