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.
Raven Prints – Terrace, British Columbia | Screen printing – Owner Nikki Villeneuve.
Cheekbone Beauty – St. Catharines, Ontario | Beauty products – Owner Jenn Harper
Wolf Pack Apparel – Vancouver, British Columbia | Clothing company – Owner Craig Stephens
Iron Dog Books – Vancouver, British Columbia | Bookshop and book truck – Owners Hilary Atleo and Cliff Atleo
Jada Creations – Terrace, British Columbia | Jewelry made from cedar bark – Owner Jaimie Davis
Feast Café Bistro – Winnipeg, Manitoba | Restaurant – Owner Christa Guenther
Sayzoons – St-Pierre-Jolys, Manitoba | Outdoor adventures – Owner Season Kirkwood
Anne Mulaire – Winnipeg, Manitoba | Clothing company – Owner Andreanne Mulaire Dandeneau
Raven Rising – Sudbury, Ontario | Chocolates and pastries – Owner Tammy Maki
