Pow Wow Pitch Podcast

“The negativity is always going to be there. There's always going to be someone who looks down on you. But, you'll never know what would happen if you don't take that chance.” On this episode of the Pow Wow Pitch Podcast, guest Harlan Kingfisher, Founder and CEO of Smudge the Blades, Plains Cree from Sturgeon Lake First Nation in Treaty 6 Territory, talks about what it takes to win Pow Wow Pitch, Indigenous hockey in Canada and overcome addictions after moving off the rez.

“The main thing about entrepreneurship is just trying and ultimately learning. Entrepreneurship is another avenue of learning. Don’t fear failure; it’s just learning. Trying is the starting point and then move forward from there.” In this episodeKyle St Amour Brennanand Tracy Ridler, BUILD NATIVE Indigenous Program Managers at Shopify, discuss building an Indigenous economy through culture-first entrepreneurship, redefining success, and their advice on starting up.

"People constantly tell us, 'You made me feel brave to be who I am.' It's so important to be totally you - to be proud of where you're from and your upbringing. Look, I'm a rezzy person. It's who I am. Don't be afraid to be real about who you are. Honour who you are. If you are authentic to yourself, a community will be drawn to you and your business." Amy Jackson is the Founder of Nativelovenotes, a brand, e-commerce and retail business that sells stationery, apparel and jewelry featuring fun and unique designs with poignant messaging. In this episode, Amy shares her big lift of starting up, how she sustained herself while figuring it all out, and how allowing herself to be authentic helped her find her entrepreneurial footing and attract a community around her business.

“As an entrepreneur, you can affect your community and your people. You can add things that have been forgotten in the business world and be the change you want to see.” Bernice Clarke is the owner and founder of Iqaluit-based UasaU Soap. Bernice shares how she gained the confidence to use the land, animals and traditional ways to make her products and build her business through the encouragement and blessing of elders in her community. Bernice shares how she connects to her ancestors and derives strength by reclaiming her culture through her business.

“It’s about the power of community that we have Indigenous culture; that’s the foundation.” Patrice Mousseau is the creator of Satya Organics, a skincare company that delivers organic products for those sensitive skin conditions. Patrice shares her journey of starting up Satya Organics and scaling it to more than 900 retailers across Canada and her vision for the future. In this conversation, Patrice shares why she believes ‘community care’ and supporting one another can be a natural source of strength for Indigenous entrepreneurs.

"It's about reconciliation within ourselves, as the true and original entrepreneurs of Turtle Island. This is a take-back of our financial sovereignty." Lynn-Marie Angus and her sister, who come from the Gitxaala, Nisga'a, Metis, and Cree Nations, started Sister’s Sage to become their own bosses and create a safe work environment that promotes wellness culture. Lynn-Marie shares how a focus on collaboration and community helped her grow her business, reconcile within and achieve financial sovereignty while creating a platform for healing, truth and reclamation.

“It’s about more than starting a business. It’s about healing intergenerational trauma, reclaiming your space, and grounding it in an Indigenous way.” Leigh Joseph is an ethnobotanist and the Founder of Sḵwálwen Botanicals from the Squamish First Nation. Leigh brings together Indigenous science and self-care rituals to create skincare experiences grounded in the natural world. Leigh shares her entrepreneurial journey, motivations, ambitions, growing a team, and healing intergenerational traumas through entrepreneurship.

“Take small steps, consistently every day, and you will get to where you want to go.” Anna Cote is Anishnabeg of Kitigan Zibi and the Founder of Birch Bite, a popular restaurant that prepares traditionally harvested foods with respect and a focus on good health. Anna shares her steps from preparing and delivering meals to opening up a bush trailer and now owning and managing a thriving restaurant. She discusses Indigenous food systems and sovereignty, celebrating her culture through her restaurant and finding balance beyond burnout.

“You can heal your traumas and loss through your business, and once we heal ourselves, we can heal others.” Anishnaabe entrepreneur Jennifer Harper, Founder and CEO of Cheekbone Beauty, shares how she started and scaled Cheekbone Beauty, lessons learned along the way, and her vision for creating the world’s most sustainable beauty business that reflects and celebrates Indigenous faces and culture.

"You have to embrace failure as part of your business journey." Kayoki Whiteduck is a herb farmer, herbalist, environmentalist, founder of Mitigomin Agriculture and Algonquin from Kitigan Zibi. Kayoki shares his journey from planting his first seeds and selling his first harvest of chocolate mint tea at local farmer's markets in glass jars to expanding his line to 26 blends, selecting sustainable and compostable packaging to increase his longevity products and moving sales online during the pandemic.