Category: Blog

BC Achievement is thrilled to share the names of the 2025 recipients of the Indigenous Business Award (IBA) – a celebration of the strength, vision, and innovation thriving within Indigenous economies across British Columbia.

Now in its 17th year, the IBA program, one of five award initiatives from the BC Achievement Foundation, honours Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs whose work not only uplifts communities but also drives innovation while staying rooted in culture, land, and tradition.

“The 2025 Indigenous Business Award recipients embody the strength, vision, and wisdom of their Nations,” said Walter Pela, Chair of the BC Achievement Foundation. “These leaders are building businesses that uplift future generations and reaffirm the vital role of Indigenous economies across these territories.”

Recognizing Remarkable Entrepreneurs

This year’s recipients represent a diverse and inspiring range of enterprises—from young entrepreneurs to community-owned ventures and long-standing leaders. Their stories are inspiring examples of how Indigenous business continues to grow, evolve, and lead across sectors.

Meet the 2025 IBA Recipients:

• Young Entrepreneur of the Year
  4 Generations Creations – Kamloops
• Business of the Year (1–2 person enterprise)
  Touch of Culture – West Vancouver
• Business of the Year (3–10 person enterprise)
  Authentic Indigenous Seafood Co-operation – Kamloops
• Business of the Year (11+ person enterprise)
  Salish Soils – Sechelt
• Community-owned Business of the Year (one entity)
  Skwlāx Resource Management Ltd – Chase
• Community-owned Business of the Year (two or more entities)
  Khowutzun Development Corporation – Duncan
• Business Partnership of the Year
  Kettle River Contracting LP – Cranbrook
• Award of Distinction for Lifetime Achievement
  Harold Calla – Squamish Nation

Each recipient will be honoured at a formal gala ceremony at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. The event is open to the public and promises to be an evening of celebration, connection, and inspiration. Early bird tickets are now available for $250 per person—purchase your tickets here.

With more than 230 alumni to date, the IBA program does more than honour excellence – it builds bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous economies, creates authentic spaces for Indigenous success stories to be shared, and helps inspire the next generation of business leaders.

A special thank-you to this year’s jury panel:

• Tim Low, Board President, ANTCO & member of Métis Nation BC
• Ernie (Bones) George, CEO, Inlailawatash Natural Resource Services (2015 IBA alumnus)
• Ashley O’Neil, Owner of AshFireWear (2024 IBA alumna)

The Indigenous Business Award is made possible through the support of our partners. We are grateful to present the program in partnership with the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation and Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan).

Thank you to Our Partners

Special thanks to our Platform Partner RBC, and program sponsors: Ovintiv, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, New Relationship Trust, Seaspan, West Fraser, ANTCO, BCLC, FortisBC, and SFU Beedie School of Business.

Join the Celebration

Follow along as we highlight this year’s recipients through our #shinethelightbc campaign and help us celebrate the incredible leadership, resilience, and success of Indigenous entrepreneurs throughout the province.

BC Achievement: Elevate Excellence. Share Success. Inspire Change.

Tsetasiya Geena Jackson and Kúkwpi7 (Chief) Willie Sellars will be the Co-Directors of Ceremonies for the 2025 Indigenous Business Award (IBA) Gala! The 17^th annual IBA Gala is taking place on Wednesday, November 5, at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. This highly anticipated event is the place to be for anyone interested in Indigenous business in BC. 

Meet Tsetasiya Geena Jackson 

Geena Jackson returns for her fourth year as Co-Director of the IBA Gala, bringing her experience and passion for celebrating Indigenous business excellence. As a devoted advocate for Indigenous rights, self-determination, and economic development, Geena has over 25 years of experience serving First Nation communities and the industry at large. A proud member of the Shishalh Nation (Sechelt), she is deeply committed to strengthening Indigenous communities through strategic partnerships with industry experts and government bodies. 

Geena has been instrumental in helping over 800 Indigenous entrepreneurs grow their businesses and social enterprises. Her commitment to Indigenous economic growth is further exemplified by her creation of the Bears’ Lair TV show on APTN, where she serves as a core judge. This unique platform supports Indigenous entrepreneurs on a national scale, offering exposure, guidance, and opportunities to scale their ventures. 

Additionally, Geena has created the Bears’ Lair Youth Dream Camps, teaching Indigenous youth aged 11-18 across Canada about entrepreneurship, life skills, and creating tools for future success. She has offered over 65 camps and is well on her way to facilitating additional camps in 2025, educating, elevating, and inspiring over 1,000 Indigenous youth nationwide. 

Meet Kúkwpi7 (Chief) Willie Sellars 

Joining Geena this year is Kúkwpi7 Willie Sellars whose Nation is a recipient of the 2022 IBA for its business Sugar Cane Archaeology and Kúkwpi7 Sellars is also an alumnus of the 2023 BC Reconciliation Award program. Kúkwpi7 Willie was born and raised in Williams Lake, BC and is a member of the Williams Lake First Nation (WLFN) of the Secwepemc Nation. Elected to WLFN Council at the age of 24 in 2008, Willie was one of the youngest elected Councillors in WLFN history. After serving ten years on Council, he was elected as the Chief of the Williams Lake First Nation in 2018. In his previous work experience, Kúkwpi7 Willie worked as a Wildland Firefighter for the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations before returning to his community to assume the position of Special Project Coordinator in the WLFN Economic Development Department. During this time, he was responsible for new business initiatives flowing from Impact Benefit Agreements, engagement with proponents in the traditional territory, and community consultation for major WLFN projects. 

Kúkwpi7 Willie is also a published author of “Dipnetting with Dad,” which won a Moonbeam Children’s Book Award. He enjoys his family time with his five kids, playing hockey, pow wow dancing, attending community events at WLFN, dipnetting, and playing fastball. 

A Night to Celebrate Indigenous Entrepreneurial Achievement 

The 2025 Indigenous Business Award Gala is set to be an extraordinary evening of celebrating achievement in the Indigenous economy. This event is an opportunity to honor outstanding accomplishments, network with industry leaders, and be part of a vibrant community that supports and uplifts Indigenous businesses. 

Don’t miss out on this incredible event. Save the date and watch for early bird tickets beginning August 15, 2025. Sponsorship opportunities remain available.  

Contact Angela Marston, IBA Program Director angela@bcachievement.com and join the IBA sponsorship family today! 

BC Achievement: Elevate Excellence. Share Success. Inspire Change.

Photo: Angela Marston (Statu Stsuhwum), IBA Program Director

Since 2008, the Indigenous Business Award (IBA) program has been celebrating and recognizing Indigenous business excellence in BC. Right now, the program is in full flight with nominations secured and the jury busy evaluating each submission – we caught up with IBA Program Director Angela Marston to see what the program’s focus is during the current selection phase and how she’s engaging with community.

Q: Hi Angela, It’s good to have another update chat with you – and learn about what’s new with IBA as you come up to your third year anniversary as program director!

Angela: It’s been an excellent year so far for IBA outreach and I am excited to see the program growing and expanding – it’s been one of my key goals since beginning my role. With BC Achievement’s combined #recognizeremarkable call for nominations campaign at the start of 2025 – we saw new and diverse submissions coming in. With this expansion comes an increased interest from FN communities, capital corporations and individual Indigenous entrepreneurs from throughout BC. AND, we will be announcing the 2025 recipients in June!

We are also excited that program nominations are now open all year. This allows nominators to take action in the moment and not wait for an annual nomination period. Nominations for 2026 are open now until February 15, 2026. If you know an Indigenous owned business that is impacting change and creating innovative systems, nominate them NOW for next year.

Q: Last month you hosted the inaugural IBA alumni social and we’ve heard great things from the participants – can you share some of their feedback and how that helps direct your programming?

Angela: It was fantastic to gather with IBA alumni last month at Danny Chase’s (2009 alumnus) offices in Yaletown and connect with past awardees. And a big shout out to Danny for hosting us. The vibe in the room was electric and we all appreciated the chance to gather in person, share stories and NETWORK. 

Ruth Williams, one of the members of the IBA original planning committee, a past jury member and Award of Distinction recipient (2013) knocked it out of the park with her meaningful keynote sharing memories from her childhood and inspiring everyone present: “if a little girl who came from humble beginnings can do it, so can you”.

The gathering solidified our plan to develop more channels for program alumni to engage with each other as mentors, ambassadors and advisors. Curtis Thomas (2022 alumnus) “Gathering as business owners gives us the chance to connect and help problem solve without having to reinvent the wheel.”

Meaningful conversations were sparked by the gathering with those engaged with the IBA sponsorship family. Our partners are keen to see the impact of the IBA in Indigenous communities throughout the province. We are in the thick of the Sponsorship campaign for the 2025 IBA program right now.  As always, we are grateful to work in partnership with so many organizations who help us tell the stories of business excellence to inspire and achieve.

Q: Why should organizations consider partnering with BC Achievement and supporting the IBA program?

Angela: Sponsoring the IBA is a powerful way to support economic reconciliation while recognizing the contributions of Indigenous entrepreneurs. By aligning your organization with IBA and its awardees (and alumni), you’re supporting inclusive prosperity while promoting Indigenous-led leadership across many industries. IBA alumni are driving growth, creating employment, and preserving cultural values and Indigenous ways of knowing through their unique, community-based approaches to entrepreneurship.

Sponsors share with me that they value the IBA recipients’ stories of impact, and want to be part of the movement to inspire future generations while strengthening business networks between Indigenous and non-Indigenous sectors. 

I see our IBA partnerships as opportunities to strengthen relationships, expand visibility among community leaders, connect with government representatives, while participating in a meaningful program that honours success and collaboration. It’s more than a sponsorship—it’s an investment in equity and a culturally diverse future. 

The conversations I’m having right now with our sponsorship family and those who are considering joining it are inspired! Together, we are changing narratives and creating opportunity!

Q: No doubt you are gearing up for the 2025 IBA Gala – always a must attend event every fall in Vancouver – can you give us a behind the scenes sneak peek?

Angela: Well, it will be amazing as every year it just gets better!! In just a few weeks we will announce this year’s emcees along with the confirmed date of the gala dinner. The 2025 gala promises to be another unique celebration of achievement, culture, and connection. There is already a buzz out there – people are excited!

Q: How many years has the IBA program been celebrating Indigenous entrepreneurship?

Angela: This year marks the 17th IBA program where we’ll celebrate eight awardees! Short films showcasing each recipient’s journey are debuted in front of 700 attendees: all supporting the Indigenous business economy. Awardees will receive their recognition directly from program alumni – “passing the feather and completing the circle” – it’s a night of inspired stories and achievements. I am so looking forward to welcoming everyone!

Q: How do organizations get in touch with you to discuss supporting the IBA program and learning more about this year’s gala?

Angela: Call me, email me – let’s chat! And check out our engagement opportunities on our website: Click here Angela: 1.250.709.5299 | angela@bcachievement.com

BC Achievement: Elevate Excellence. Share Success. Inspire Change.