Indigenous business owners share their secrets and put entrepreneurship InFocus


According to a new forecast from the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), the number of Indigenous business owners is growing at five times the rate of self-employed Canadians. Indigenous women are starting their own businesses at twice the rate of non-Indigenous women.

It’s a $30-billion economy now according to RBC and forecast to triple to $100-billion by 2025.

What sort of businesses are in? All of them – from retail stores, gas stations, construction companies, restaurants, real estate, professional services, transportation, mining and airlines – just to name a few. They’re operating in urban centres, rural communities, and on the “rez” everywhere.

Well, people who are their own bosses – entrepreneurs – the ones who take the plunge every day into the business world – join InFocus to share their success stories.

These entrepreneurs are going to inspire us, teach us some secrets of their success and how a seed of an idea grew into a business.

Indigenous-owned businesses featured on InFocus

Raven PrintsTerrace, British Columbia | Screen printing – Owner Nikki Villeneuve.

Cheekbone Beauty St. Catharines, Ontario | Beauty products – Owner Jenn Harper

Wolf Pack ApparelVancouver, British Columbia | Clothing company – Owner Craig Stephens

Iron Dog BooksVancouver, British Columbia | Bookshop and book truck – Owners Hilary Atleo and Cliff Atleo

Jada CreationsTerrace, British Columbia | Jewelry made from cedar bark – Owner Jaimie Davis

Feast Café BistroWinnipeg, Manitoba | Restaurant – Owner Christa Guenther

Sayzoons St-Pierre-Jolys, Manitoba | Outdoor adventures – Owner Season Kirkwood

Anne MulaireWinnipeg, Manitoba | Clothing company – Owner Andreanne Mulaire Dandeneau

Raven RisingSudbury, Ontario | Chocolates and pastries – Owner Tammy Maki

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