The Indigenous Business Award (IBA) 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.
– Walter Pela, Chair, BC Achievement Foundation
AWARD PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Indigenous Business Award (IBA) program recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of Indigenous businesses, entrepreneurs, partnership entities and community-owned enterprises.
WHY NOMINATE / APPLY
The IBA program serves: to identify successful Indigenous businesses; to honour and celebrate Indigenous business achievements; and to support and sustain Indigenous entrepreneurship.
DATES TO REMEMBER – 2026 Award Program
DATES TO REMEMBER – 2027 Award Program
CHECKLIST – BEFORE YOU START
*If submitting a written statement presents a barrier, please contact BC Achievement staff for assistance.
CATEGORIES
Individuals and businesses may enter in ONE category only.
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Business of the Year
Community-Owned Business of the Year
Business Partnership of the Year
Award of Distinction:
Visit the Award of Distinction section to learn more about past Award of Distinction recipients.
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:
A business may self-nominate (i.e., apply for the award).
The following are ineligible:
*Past award recipients must wait five years before reapplying unless the nature of the business has significantly changed.
The following individuals are ineligible to receive the Award of Distinction:
An individual may not self-nominate for the Award of Distinction category.
*Visit BC Achievement’s Awardees webpage to see if your nominee is a past recipient of the award.
HOW AWARDEES ARE SELECTED & RECOGNIZED
An independent Selection Committee of Indigenous business leaders reviews the nominations and selects recipients based on the evaluation criteria. The Committee’s decision is final. Nominees are only contacted if selected. The nominee is encouraged to let their nominator know they’ve been selected to receive the award.
Awardees receive a cash bursary, a recognition film, a commemorative plaque certificate, and a medallion and lapel pin designed by renowned artist Robert Davidson, OC, OBC. They are also granted use of the Indigenous Business Award seal and honoured at the IBA Gala dinner in Vancouver celebrating their achievements.
Rescission of an Awardee’s Recognition
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 Indigenous Business Award program and other promotional activities on BC Achievement’s website, social media channels etc.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact: indigenousbusiness@bcachievement.com
ADVISORY PANEL
SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS
REVIEW THE IBA NOMINATION GUIDE FOR TIPS ON WRITING A STRONG NOMINATION
To submit a complete nomination, you must provide:
Tip: If you need more time, use ‘Save and Continue Later’ at the bottom of the online form—you’ll receive a link to complete your nomination before the deadline.
*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 Selection Committee 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
WRITING A STRONG NOMINATION
Nominees will be evaluated based on the following four criteria. When preparing your nomination, describe how the nominee demonstrates each area using clear examples and specific details and outcomes wherever possible.
IMPORTANT TIPS
NOMINATOR STATEMENT (MAX 3000 CHARACTERS INCLUDING SPACES | ~500 WORDS):
Use the full word count for the nominator statement to provide a thorough, well-rounded, and engaging description of the nominee’s achievements.
Note: The jury values learning about the nominee’s story of resilience and how Indigenous values have been helpful. The writer is encouraged to provide statistical data or historical context, if applicable.
OWNERSHIP STRUCTURE STATEMENT (MAX 1250 CHARACTERS INCLUDING SPACES | ~200 WORDS):
COMMUNITY IMPACT STATEMENT (MAX 2000 CHARACTERS INCLUDING SPACES | ~300 WORDS):
SUPPORT LETTER (MAX 3000 CHARACTERS INCLUDING SPACES | ~500 WORDS):
FINANCIALS STATEMENT (OPTIONAL BUT RECOMMENDED):
To help identify trends, nominators are encouraged to provide nominee’s revenue, expenses, and net profit for the past two years. This information allows the jury to assess community impact, sustainability, innovation, and leadership within a quadruple bottom-line framework, measuring the business’s influence on people, the planet, profit, and purpose.
*Download the IBA Financials form.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS (OPTIONAL BUT RECOMMENDED):
Note: The nominator may upload one Word or PDF document with up to five links in the ‘Additional Materials’ section.
*Each weblink counts as one Additional Material.
UPDATING A PREVIOUS NOMINATION
Nominations are valid for three years. To update:
Need help? We can send you your previous submission—email indigenousbusiness@bcachievement.com.
All nominations are confidential. Nominators will be notified by email once the selection process is complete. Nominations remain active for three years and are reconsidered in subsequent selection cycles. We encourage nominators to share updates, as the Selection Committee values receiving current information that reflects the nominee’s ongoing contributions and impact.
THANK YOU!
1. Can information be saved on the nomination form and completed at a later date?
Click “Save and Continue Later” at the bottom of the online form. Enter your email to receive a link that allows you to return and complete your nomination before the deadline.
2. Is a nomination considered for more than one year?
Nominations begin a three-year program and may be reviewed by up to three selection committees. Nominators are given the opportunity to update their nomination each year.
3. When are awardees notified and where are the names of the awardees published?
Awardees are notified late summer. Their names are published on BC Achievement’s website and social media channels and shared via press release in the fall.
4. What is the definition of a business?
A business is defined as an occupation or trade and the purchase and sale of products or services to make a profit. In a business, people work to make and sell products or services; other people buy the products and services.
5. Does the business have to be registered?
No, but the business must provide goods and/or services to consumers.
6. What is the definition of a business partnership?
A business partnership is an entity formed between two or more businesses to undertake economic activity together. The businesses agree to create a new entity by contributing equity, and they then share in the revenues, expenses and control of the enterprise.
7. Does a certain percentage of a business have to be Indigenous owned?
Yes, Community-owned businesses must be 100% owned by the community. Other businesses must be at least 51% Indigenous-owned and operated. Business partnerships in which the second partner is non-Indigenous must be at least 50% Indigenous owned.
8. If I am 35 years old, can I only apply for the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award category?
Nominees aged 35 or younger by the nomination deadline may apply for the Young Entrepreneur category OR a business category (if eligible), but only one category may be selected.
9. Should occasional, part-time and full-time employees be counted separately?
Please count only permanent full- or part-time staff. Temporary or short-term increases in staffing may be described in your business summary but should not be included in your total employee count.
10. If a business is 100% owned by the community, can it be nominated under the Business of the Year Category?
No, a wholly owned community enterprise must be nominated under the Community-Owned Business Category.
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.
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.
