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Maryline Launière, an Innu from Mashteuiatsh, has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Inspired by her parents who were themselves once entrepreneurs, she started her own company called API biscuits. “Api” means “sit down” in her Innu native language. She wanted her origins to be transposed into her business. The following is a portrait of this entrepreneur.

Shania Gass is a 25-year-old Wendat entrepreneur who is the mother of two children and married to a man from the community of Uashat mak Mani-Utenam. This wonderful Indigenous family has lived in the Sept-Îles region in the community of Uashat mak Mani-Utenam for just over four years.

Born in the city of Sept-Îles and originally from Nitassinan (Innu territory), Josée Leblanc is the Executive Director for Atikuss Canada. This entrepreneur created the Bottes de l’Espoir (Boots of Hope) and promotes her culture throughout the world by sharing the talents of Indigenous women through ancestral art.

To be a First Nations education consultant was a dream that Nathalie Chantal, a 53-year-old Wendat woman, had cherished for some time. She had always told herself that she wanted to end her career as a consultant.

At 59 years of age, Mathilda Fontaine, a young retiree, has the wind in her sails with her creation, design and fashion business which is gaining in notoriety and popularity. Création Puamun refers to the name of her little girl and means Dream, because for Mathilda, her business involves making one of her dreams come true!

Created by four Indigenous women, two Mohawk artists and two Anishinaabe artists, Hannah Claus, Nadia Myre, Caroline Monnet and Skawennati, the Daphne Art Centre is a new self-managed centre for Indigenous artists located in Tiohtià:ke / Mooniyang / Montreal.

N’tus Skincare & Cosmetics (N’tus), a Gesgapegiag business owned by entrepreneur Christianne Bernard, launched its first product this summer, which is a hand sanitizer. The following is an overview of this brand-new company, which took advantage of an opportunity created by the COVID-19 pandemic to start its activities.

On March 15, 2021, the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Economic Development Commission (FNQLEDC) facilitated a roundtable entitled “Synergy of the Indigenous women's entrepreneurial ecosystem” as part of the first virtual edition of the “Expo Entrepreneurs” gathering. Here is a portrait of this ecosystem and its interest to diversify the economic opportunities offered to women.

You are a private or social business, organization or Indigenous group and you have designed a product or products to meet the needs of your community? You may be eligible for the Indigenous Innovation Initiative, a program that has just been launched.

In Kanesatake, Mohawk entrepreneur, Gail Nelson is the proud owner of Bayside Convenience, a business that started out as a carpentry workshop and is now a convenience store.

Anna Isaac is a Mi’gmaq entrepreneur in Listuguj, who with her spouse Frank Brisk, owns Welteg, an e-shop and brick and mortar store. In business for some years now, Anna has a very inspiring entrepreneurial path which shows the positive impact that mentorship can have in the life of a person.

If there’s one thing you can say about Victoria LaBillois, a Mi'gmaq from the community of Listuguj, is that she has an entrepreneurial spirit! This entrepreneur loves challenges and creating new businesses in response to any opportunities that may arise. A portrait of this inspiring entrepreneur follows.

In Wôlinak, Martine Bergeron-Milette owns an active business in a traditionally male dominated sector: transportation and landscaping. Below, we’ve painted a brief portrait of this entrepreneur’s journey along with her company, Transport Déménagement DEC.

In Wemotaci, Association Nikawi is the instigator of the Osekwan Minic project, whose aim is to increase economic independence for women, while enhancing their valuable know-how in the processing of wild blueberries.