Indigenous women entrepreneurs in economic, interactive spotlight

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This article was published 14/05/2023 (901 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A showcase of Indigenous entrepreneurs promises to be a one-of-a-kind networking opportunity that shines a spotlight on one of Canada’s fastest-growing entrepreneurial segments.

The Celebrating Indigenous Entrepreneurs in Manitoba event is happening at RRC Polytech’s Manitou a bi Bii daziigae campus (319 Elgin Ave.) Wednesday (5:30-9 p.m.).

It is a collaboration between Ashley Richard of the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub and Rhonda Forgues, general manager of the Indigenous Chamber of Commerce. The event aims to create an inclusive innovation ecosystem for Indigenous women and entrepreneurs across Canada and showcase local diversity.

“Generally, the whole idea of the event is to just celebrate and amplify Indigenous women entrepreneurs’ contributions to the economy,” Richard said, adding Indigenous women are starting up enterprises at twice the rate of non-Indigenous women. In Canada, there are about 23,000 Indigenous women who are entrepreneurs.

Richard, who has hosted events in other cities, said Wednesday’s gathering promises to be a more interactive and high-energy networking opportunity for participants.

“All of the events have been a little bit different, like the ones in Calgary and Montreal were more like panels and speakers and events that ended with a social hour reception. But with this one in Manitoba, we wanted to do something different, so we came up with this idea to have this interactive, fun, networking evening that will still centre around Indigenous women entrepreneurs,” Richard said.

The chamber’s goal is to be able to profile and highlight Indigenous businesses overall, Forgues said.

“(It is) really important to be able to celebrate, honour and acknowledge the contributions of Indigenous women here in Winnipeg and Manitoba… We wanted to be able to highlight the positive contributions our women have done, not only through business, but through a variety of other aspects of their work and the day-to-day stuff they do at work and in the community,” she said.

“We really think its important for folks to not only understand the impact and contributions of who’s involved, but also create awareness of these women who are going to be there and who are going to be involved, so that more people are aware of them, can engage with them, purchase from them, utilize their services or just enjoy the products and services that they have to offer all.”

Aside from the opportunity to network, attendees can enjoy an array of interactive booths with a little taste of what each business has to offer, as well as pop-up booths featuring different products and services.

There will be food from the Feast, and live entertainment from DJ Kaptain and Brandi Veznia. There will be tarot card readings and a 360 photo booth, and a marketplace featuring items from Indigenous makers.

“The definitions that we’ve used when we determine who is an entrepreneur has been pretty liberal… there are a lot of programs out there that don’t include self-employment or sole proprietors as entrepreneurs, and we do,” Forgues said.

“I think the statistical data shows that the majority of Indigenous women-owned businesses are microbusinesses or they are self-employed. So, if you don’t include that in your definition of entrepreneurship, you’re excluding literally thousands of Indigenous women who are doing awesome things.”

Tickets are $25 (www.indigenouschambermb.ca). The event is open to the public, and not just solely for Indigenous women, organizers said.

“If this event was just for Indigenous women, that would be just like singing to the choir — we already know how good we are,” Richard said. “I think it’s really important that on the back end of this we are not just showcasing but we are supporting Indigenous women businesses in Manitoba.”

Added Forgues: “This is an opportunity for all women to come and see what we are doing, and to possibly partner and collaborate with some of the things we are working on.”

shelley.cook@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @ShelleyACook