SASKATOON — Hundreds of Indigenous businesses — both big firms and individual entrepreneurs — gathered for the 5th Annual Indigenous Business Gathering on Wednesday, March 4, at Prairieland Park.
The annual trade show highlights the growing role of Indigenous businesses in the province’s economy, showcasing the innovations and gains they have achieved over the years.
The gathering brought together more than businesses to showcase the diverse businesses and industries led by Indigenous leaders and their partners.
Over the years, the IBG has become one of the largest events in Canada and is unique in that it serves as a platform for Indigenous companies to create partnerships with non-Indigenous individuals.
The partnership between the Cowessess First Nation and BNature became part of the trade show, where they presented rapid composting to help farmers and promote sustainable farming methods.
The annual gathering has also given Indigenous vendors and entrepreneurs, including small business owner Audrey Armstrong, the chance to showcase their products and services.
Armstrong is an Indigenous artist who owns Soul Spirit Creations and designed a limited edition Every Child Matters logo for the Saskatchewan Rush. She also makes ribbon skirts and paintings, and is often commissioned to create murals.
Economic development initiatives are also helping Indigenous communities participate in larger projects, including the creation of the Saskatchewan Indigenous Investment Finance Corp.
The government, in a statement, said SIIFC was created to improve access to capital for Indigenous communities and organizations interested in natural resources development and agriculture projects.
One example is the 32-megawatt Wicehtowak Solar Project led by George Gordon Developments, which received a $7-million loan guarantee through the program.
According to Statistics Canada, Indigenous-owned businesses account for about five per cent of all private-sector businesses in Saskatchewan. That figure places the province third among Canadian provinces and above the national average of four per cent, underscoring the growing influence of Indigenous entrepreneurship in the region.
