Calvin Helin

Calvin Helin is an expert on Aboriginal affairs, practicing lawyer and the best-selling author of Dances with Dependency. Helin’s heritage is impressive: he is a member of the Tsimshian Nation from the Northern B.C. community of Lax Kw’alaams (Port Simpson), the son of hereditary Chief, Smoogyit Nees Nuugan Noos (Barry Helin), of the Royal House of Gitlan, and Sigyidmhanaa Su Dalx (Verna Helin), matron of the Royal House of Gitachngeek.

Helin’s expertise and knowledge of Aboriginal issues has served him well in the business world. He is President and CEO of Eagle Group of Companies, Orca Spirit Publishing & Communications, Inc., and President of the Native Investment and Trade Association. Recently Helin was appointed to the National Council on Welfare (a body that advises the federal Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development), and to the Advisory Cabinet of the SOS Children’s Village BC.

Chosen as one of the top “40 Under 40” entrepreneurs by Business in Vancouver and The Financial Post, Helin has also been a leader of international trade missions to China and New Zealand.

Helin is the author of several publications relating to law, Aboriginal business, and associated issues. With the release of his best-selling book, Dances with Dependency: Out of Poverty Through Self-Reliance, Helin has developed an international reputation and following as both author and advocate. Through this book, Helin offers hope for a better life to any population trapped in dependency, offering a strategic blueprint to greater self-reliance, and integrity. Helin’s latest book, Breaking Free from Economic Dependency: Hope and Empowerment Through Self-Sufficiency, was published in October 2010.

Helin is the founder and an instructor at the Shudokan East Vancouver Karate Club - an effort that provides martial arts lessons at no cost to low income inner-city children as a way of teaching them discipline, manners, self-respect and other important lessons that can be applied to all areas of their lives.

• Hope and Success Through Self-Reliance

  ·The key component is Accountable education for Social and Economic parity. ·Economic development to provide positive revenue streams to replace inadequate government subsidies/handouts. ·Return to self-reliance and cooperation that allowed First Nations to develop vibrant, successful bands for 10,000 years till colonization.
  

• On behalf of our Board and this year's participants, I would like to sincerely thank you for sharing your time, talents, expertise, and experience as a presenter at this year's event. Evaluations of the Conference, particularly those related to your session, were extremely positive with many highly appreciative comments. It was particularly informative and meaningful to the Conference delegates.
  Vision Quest Conferences

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  October 2010

  The Economic Dependency Trap

  Calvin Helin worked his way up from an impoverished boyhood in a remote First Nations village in northern British Columbia to become a successful attorney and international businessman. He has dedicated his life to helping others break the bonds of economic dependency and emerge with newfound confidence and self-worth. Now, in his new book, The Economic Dependency Trap: Breaking Free to Self-Reliance, Helin reveals the hidden puppet strings attached to handouts on every level, from households to the global economy. He proposes groundbreaking, positive solutions in down-to-earth language every reader can relate to.

  
  
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  December 2006

  Dances With Dependency

  There should always be hope for a better future no matter who you are or what your station in life happens to be. No matter how complex and unsolvable a situation appears to be, there is always reason to hope. It is rare that something is written with the power to have a sweeping impact on such seemingly intractable problems. The author, Calvin Helin, paints an impassioned and insightful portrait of the poverty and conditions of indigenous people. At the same time, he provides real, focused, strategic turnaround solutions on how to move constructively forward.