Indigenous Enterprises

Emily Kewageshig for The Globe and Mail

Showcasing the entrepreneurs and innovators driving the new Indigenous economy

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Indigenous video games are gaining traction, and this independent studio is at the forefront
Hamilton-based Achimostawinan Games is winning fans – and awards – thanks to its specific viewpoint and compelling gameplay
At Hamilton’s Achimostawinan Games, founder Meagan Byrne specifically targets Indigenous women, a traditionally under-served audience.
What’s next for Indigenous entrepreneurs in Canada?
Fashion designer Lesley Hampton stresses the importance of staying committed to personal and cultural values, even amid economic uncertainty.
In Cranbrook, B.C., the Ktunaxa Nation is transforming past pain into a prosperous future
Sophie Pierre, former chief of ʔaq̓am, one of the bands in the Ktunaxa Nation, oversaw the transformation of St. Eugene Resort from a residential school to a thriving hotel.
For sporting goods company Iroqit, scaling is not the only metric of success
Iroqit founder Melanie Squires is prioritizing a hands-on, community-focused approach to business.
Why Indigenous-owned financial firms are joining forces with the country’s biggest banks
To Mr. DiBlasio, more is better. “If, in ten years from now, there are five other Longhouses, I think that’s a success,” he says.

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Indigenous video games are gaining traction, and this independent studio is at the forefront
At Hamilton’s Achimostawinan Games, founder Meagan Byrne specifically targets Indigenous women, a traditionally under-served audience.
small business
What’s next for Indigenous entrepreneurs in Canada?
Fashion designer Lesley Hampton stresses the importance of staying committed to personal and cultural values, even amid economic uncertainty.
small business
In Cranbrook, B.C., the Ktunaxa Nation is transforming past pain into a prosperous future
Sophie Pierre, former chief of ʔaq̓am, one of the bands in the Ktunaxa Nation, oversaw the transformation of St. Eugene Resort from a residential school to a thriving hotel.
small business
For sporting goods company Iroqit, scaling is not the only metric of success
Iroqit founder Melanie Squires is prioritizing a hands-on, community-focused approach to business.
small business
Why Indigenous-owned financial firms are joining forces with the country’s biggest banks
To Mr. DiBlasio, more is better. “If, in ten years from now, there are five other Longhouses, I think that’s a success,” he says.
small business
Across the country, Indigenous-owned dance companies are melding tradition and innovation
Hamilton, Ont.-based choreographer Santee Smith started Kaha:wi Dance Theatre in 2005 so she could tell Indigenous stories.
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Patrice Mousseau is building an Indigenous business ecosystem, one entrepreneur at a time
Patrice Mousseau, founder of Satya Organic, managed to build a thriving beauty business without any entrepreneurial experience. Now, she’s helping other Indigenous founders achieve the same heights.
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This tech company is improving online safety for Indigenous people
Teqare founder Darion Ducharme provides group workshops on online safety for Indigenous people of all ages.
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Meet the man behind the country’s first (and so far, only) national Indigenous law firm
When Ron Maurice founded Maurice Law in 2002, his goal was to support Indigenous communities and help them advocate for their rights.
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How an Indigenous design studio helped improve access to health care at UHN — and beyond
Mike Anderson, the strategic lead for University Health Network’s Indigenous Health Program, worked with the Indigenous Design Studio at Brook McIlroy to design a culturally safe place for Indigenous patients at Toronto Western Hospital.
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TIFF ’25 will feature a record number of Indigenous films
Anishinaabe filmmaker Darlene Naponse’s film Aki, which is set in Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, is one of eight Indigenous movies at TIFF this year, thanks to support from the Indigenous Screen Office.
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How the woman-owned Iskwew Air is empowering Indigenous women
Over the past eight years, Iskwew Air founder Teara Fraser has grown her business and her staff—including bringing her daughter, Kiana Hill, on as Chief Operating Officer.
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These entrepreneurs are using their canned water to improve access to safe drinking water for Indigenous communities
FN Clean Water co-founder Tyson Wesley, pictured here with former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, saw a business opportunity in the market for bottled water—but he also has a personal connection to the need for safe drinking water in Indigenous communities.
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Indigenous-owned golf courses are leading the charge on sustainability
At Caughnawaga Golf Club in Kahnawake, Quebec, sustainability is a key factor when owners Andrew, Carrie, and James Patton are making decisions about day-to-day operations, from what type of fertilizer to use to irrigation processes.
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Indigenous-owned accounting firm navigates complex terrain
Indigenous peoples and businesses in Canada have unique tax needs that non-Indigenous accountants often don’t have the expertise to navigate.
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Métis-owned Locality Brewing is making ‘field-to-glass’ beer with heritage
Melanie MacInnes, the founder of B.C.-based craft brewery Locality Brewing says her connection to the land infuses every part of the business.
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First Nations farmers are growing opportunity and better food for all
Jacob Beaton, the founder of Tea Creek, an Indigenous-led farm and training program in northern B.C., and executive director of the Indigenous Food Sovereignty Association.
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There’s an app for that: Inside the technological battle to save Indigenous languages
Yvette Mollen, a professor, researcher, author and web content developer whose work is focused on preserving Innu-aimun, an Algonquian language spoken by Innu people in Quebec and Labrador.
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When it comes to climate change, Canada needs more resilient outdoor spaces. Indigenous landscape architecture can help
“Water is Life,” a sculpture by Dbaajmowin, an Indigenous-led artist collective. Indigenous landscape architecture firm SpruceLab worked with Dbaajmowin on this piece and its placement at Rotary Frenchman’s Bay West Park and Beachfront Park in Pickering, Ont.
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The chef behind Edmonton’s Bernadette’s is trying to change the perception of Indigenous cuisine
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How an Ontario designer’s eye-catching earrings ended up on one of the hottest new shows streaming on Netflix
Earrings were such an important part of the costume designer for North of North, the hit new comedy about a young Inuk woman who’s trying to change her life, that they got their own line in the budget.
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How Indigenous tourism companies are setting the standard when it comes to sustainability
Kenny Hanuse, a cultural interpreter of the Klahoose Nation and bear guide at the Indigenous-owned and -operated Klahoose Wilderness Resort, offering guests a traditional welcome.
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Noojimo Health brings culturally specific mental-health care to Indigenous patients
Noojimo Health delivers virtual, culturally competent mental-health services to Indigenous people in various regions across the country, filling a critical gap in Canada's overall health-care services.
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How Indigenous-owned record labels are carving out a better path for traditional music and artists
Ted Whitecalf started Saskatoon-based Sweet Grass Records in 1993 with the goal of better showcasing Indigenous musicians and traditional music.
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The sky is the limit for Vancouver restaurant owner bringing Indigenous cuisine to YVR
Inez Cook and Air Canada have partnered up to bring Indigenous cuisine to travellers at YVR.
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Indigenous fitness leaders go beyond physical wellness
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Art-meets-function in Indigenous furniture and design
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Indigenous beauty brands go beyond skin deep
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Why this venture-capital firm looks beyond commercial metrics
Raven Indigenous Capital Partners cofounder Stephen Nairne invests in companies in pre-seed stages and offers support through the growth process.
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Entrepreneurship camp builds confidence of Indigenous youth
Participants in the 2024 Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship Camp, which took place at the First Nations University of Canada’s Regina campus.
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Rising interest leads to wave of Indigenous catering companies
In 2018, Curtis Cardinal launched Tee Pee Treats, a catering company in Edmonton that focuses on Indigenous meals and dishes with Indigenous influences.
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AI presents opportunities and challenges to Indigenous collaborators trying to retain languages
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Indigenous publishers preserve stories in print as book sales rise
With a mission to ensure the visibility and preservation of the Inuktitut language, Inhabit Books in Toronto fosters Indigenous storytelling and cultural continuity.
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Indigenous-owned online department store wants to do more than sell T-shirts
Chelsee Pettit, founder of aaniin, with other team members, working in their former office space. Aaniin is entirely Indigenous owned and run, and it aims to boost the Indigenous economy.
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Reversing the ‘brain drain’: entrepreneurs find economic opportunities in Akwesasne
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While waiting for land back, Pikwàkanagàn First Nation is opting to buy back