Foundation News

A big thank you to the 2023-24 Indigenous Business Award (IBA) sponsors as we wrap up their year of commitment to the program and launch the 2024 Call for Nominations. These organizations support the growth of Indigenous entrepreneurship throughout the province and recognize that what’s good for the province and Indigenous entrepreneurs is good for business as well.  “Enbridge understands meaningful engagement and respective relationship are foundational to advancing reconciliation. We are committed to developing strategies, mechanisms and opportunities that support and nurture dialogue between ...

The Indigenous Business Award (IBA) program aims to honour excellence and focuses on the successes of Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs from throughout the province. Now in its 16th annual year, the Indigenous-led program offers awardees and their supporters an authentic space to showcase their achievements and build bridges between BC’s Indigenous and non-Indigenous economies.   Nominations are open for the 2024 award for another four weeks! The deadline to nominate an Indigenous business is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 31, 2024.   Recipients will be notified in ...

Photo: Leigh Joseph, Skwálwen Botanicals, 2020 Indigenous Business Award recipient Sḵwálwen Botanicals exemplifies the profound intersection between sustainability and Indigenous business practices. Based in Squamish, Sḵwálwen Botanicals is a recipient of the 2020 Indigenous Business Award, showcasing its dedication to both cultural preservation and environmental stewardship.  Skwálwen creates small batch botanical skincare products based on Indigenous plant science while honouring traditional Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) plant knowledge. Its products incorporate wild harvested plants with organic, high-quality ingredients. As an ethnobotanist and scientist, founder, and PhD candidate, Leigh Joseph leads ...

OneFeather, an Indigenous-owned technology company, continues to revolutionize the Indigenous experience through a unique blend of tradition and innovation. With a strong foundation in First Nations values and principles, OneFeather offers a range of digital services aimed at modern nation-building, including election and voting services, data sovereignty, community engagement, and comprehensive banking solutions for individuals. Having already made significant strides in supporting over 190 First Nations and Métis Nations across Canada, serving a community of 230,000 members, OneFeather recently unveiled its latest tool – the ...