The Indigenous Business Award program is a celebration of excellence in entrepreneurship and innovation. Led by Indigenous worldviews, the recognition lifts up businesses and entrepreneurs who drive transformative change within their communities and beyond.
The program highlights the contributions of Indigenous entrepreneurs to the province’s cultural and economic vibrancy, building meaningful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous economies. It celebrates success, creativity, and the strength of Indigenous perspectives, inspiring the next generation of emerging leaders. By showcasing the awardees’ achievements, the program shares their stories and motivates others to pursue entrepreneurial paths, promoting sustained economic growth.
– Robert J. Dennis Sr. (Emchayiik), 2024 Award of Distinction Recipient,
AWARD PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Indigenous Business Award (IBA) program is Indigenous led and recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of Indigenous businesses, entrepreneurs, partnership entities and community-owned enterprises. The IBA program gives voice to Indigenous entrepreneurship while modelling success for other aspiring entrepreneurs to follow.
WHY NOMINATE OR APPLY
The IBA program serves: to identify and recognize successful Indigenous businesses; to honour and celebrate Indigenous business achievements; and to support and sustain Indigenous entrepreneurship.
DATES TO REMEMBER (2026 award program)
February 15 – Deadline to submit for the 2025 award program
Summer – Awardees Announced
October – IBA Gala Dinner & presentation ceremony
The completed nomination form and all materials must be by submitted by February 15 @ 11:59 p.m. for the nomination to be considered for the 2025 award program.
Save and Continue Later – If you don’t have all the information on hand, click on the ‘Save and Continue Later’ button at the bottom of the online nomination form – you will be prompted to enter your email and will receive a link that you can access and complete your nomination prior to the deadline.
CHECKLIST – BEFORE YOU START
CATEGORIES
Individuals and businesses may enter in ONE category only.
Young Entrepreneur of the Year: this award recognizes success by a young entrepreneur in the operation of an existing business. Nominees must be aged 35 years and under by February 15, 2025, have been in business for at least two years, and the business must be at least 51% Indigenous-owned and operated (First Nations, Métis or Inuit).
Business of the Year (the business must be at least 51% Indigenous-owned and operated): these awards recognize the outstanding achievements of Indigenous entrepreneurs in three sub-categories:
Community-Owned Business of the Year (businesses must be 100% owned by the community): this award acknowledges one or more businesses owned by a community with the intention of building a strong economic foundation for community members. There are two sub-categories for this award:
Business Partnership of the Year (Indigenous ownership must be at least 50%): this award recognizes a business partnership created by two or more parties.
Award of Distinction: the Award of Distinction for lifetime achievement is presented to a person who, over his or her career, has made a significant difference in the Indigenous business community through his or her entrepreneurial endeavours and, in doing so, serves as a leader, role model, mentor and inspiration. The individual may be an innovator in his or her business activities, a successful entrepreneur, or an individual who has been instrumental in supporting or creating Indigenous business activities in the province.
NOMINATOR ELIGIBILITY
Any person, group or organization may submit nominations for the award with exceptions noted below:
NOMINEE ELIGIBILITY
An eligible nominee must be a business that:
A business may self-nominate (i.e., apply for the IBA program).
The following are ineligible to receive the Award:
*Past award recipients must wait five years before reapplying unless the nature of the business has significantly changed.
*Visit BC Achievement’s Awardees webpage to see if your nominee is a past recipient of the award.
Award of Distinction Nominees – the following individuals are ineligible to receive the Award of Distinction:
An individual may not self-nominate for the Award of Distinction category.
SELECTION OF AWARDEES
An independent jury panel representing Indigenous business expertise throughout BC evaluates nominations based on the documentation provided. They jury selects one recipient in each category. The decision of the jury is final. Nominees are notified only if selected for an award. Nominators are informed as to whether or not they have been successful with their application.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Award recipients are selected based on the nomination material submitted by the nominator and the criteria of:
RECOGNITION
IBA recipients receive a cash prize bursary and are featured in a recognition film produced by BC Achievement. In addition, they receive a medallion and lapel pin designed by renowned artist Robert Davidson, OC, OBC.
Recipients are granted use of the Indigenous Business Award seal to signify their entrepreneurial excellence.
A gala dinner is held to celebrate the achievements of the awardees in Vancouver.
Rescission of an Awardee’s Recognition
Advisory Panel
Supporting Organizations
HOW TO NOMINATE / APPLY
Download the IBA Nomination Guide for additional information and tips on submitting a compelling nomination.
The nominator must complete the online Nomination form and include the following:
*Nominee Indigenous Identity
At BC Achievement, we see the nomination process as a collaboration and the beginning of a strong meaningful relationship. The nomination must clearly articulate the nominee’s relationship and connection to their Indigenous identity.
For the purposes of the IBA program, Indigenous in the context of the First Peoples in Canada includes:
Supporting Documentation
Regarding Indigenous identity and to protect the integrity of the award, please provide supporting documentation from those who are self-identifying and disclosing their Nation affiliation. If jury members have questions, BC Achievement will follow up. Some examples for documentation include the following:
Note: Indigenous-Industry Partnerships must provide an additional statement that fully outlines the role of the Indigenous partner
**Additional Materials
*Each link submitted is considered one additional material.
UPDATING A NOMINATION
To update a nomination:
Nominations are valid for three years including the first year of nomination and two subsequent years.
Nominators are strongly encouraged to update their nomination for consideration by the following year’s jury panel if their nominee was not recognized in the previous year’s awardee cohort.
We are happy to send the documents previously submitted for your nominee. Please email indigenousbusiness@bcachievement.com to make your request.
PRIVACY POLICY
BC Achievement is committed to protecting the privacy of people through responsible management of information received. Nominations are kept confidential between the nominator and BC Achievement.
Photographs and information about the award recipients may be used for the promotion of the award program and other promotional activities (i.e., on BC Achievement’s website, social media channels, in media releases etc.).
AWARD OF DISTINCTION
The Award of Distinction for lifetime achievement (formerly the Individual Achievement Award) is presented to a person who, over his or her career, has made a significant difference in the Indigenous business community through his or her entrepreneurial endeavours and, in doing so, serves as a leader, role model, mentor and inspiration. The individual may be an innovator in his or her business activities, a successful entrepreneur, or an individual who has been instrumental in supporting or creating Indigenous business activities in the province.
Past recipients are:
Past Programs
Supporting the Indigenous Business Award program helps champion Indigenous entrepreneurship, celebrate innovation and leadership, and contribute to a more inclusive and thriving economic future for British Columbia.
BC Achievement is an independent foundation established in 2003 that honours excellence and inspires achievement in British Columbia.
Tel: 604.261.9777
Email: info@bcachievement.com