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Business Resources for Indigenous Entrepreneurs

Did You Know: BC is home to the second largest number of Indigenous entrepreneurs in Canada, with over 2,000 Indigenous-owned businesses across our province. If you’re an Indigenous entrepreneur looking to start, or grow, a business, welcome! Small Business BC is here to help you find success – whatever that may mean for your business.

This page is the perfect starting point, with information on programs, grants you can apply for, and inspiration from Indigenous entrepreneurs that have found success.

Already a small business owner? Join our BC Marketplace for free province-wide promotion, increased web traffic and marketing opportunities.

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A History of Indigenous Entrepreneurship in BC

Indigenous entrepreneurs have made BC their home since time immemorial. Learn more about this rich history, and how it threads through to the modern day.

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Hear From Ta7talíya Michelle Nahanee On Decolonizing Entrepreneurship

Businesses have an important role to play in reconciliation. We spoke to Ta7talíya Michelle Nahanee to learn more about Decolonization and reconciliation in business.

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Discover The Importance Of Land Acknowledgements

Brianna Julian, Director of Indigenous Business Development Services shares her thoughts on the importance of Land Acknowledgements for businesses operating in Canada.

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SBBC and IBDS Announce Partnership

Small Business BC is pleased to announce a partnership with Indigenous Business Development Services.

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Grow Outside BC with Export Navigator

Are you an Indigenous business owner looking to expand beyond BC? Learn how Shannan Schimmelmann can help grow your business with dedicated support and advice.

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Canada Digital Adoption Program

Looking to increase your presence online? The Canada Digital Adoption Program offers small businesses like yours a micro-grant of $2,400 to help with costs related to adopting new technologies.

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National Business Directory for Indigenous Women

The Native Women’s Association of Canada has created a national business directory for Indigenous women, and gender-diverse people in business.

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National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Learn more and hear from Indigenous voices in our community.

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Hear from Indigenous-owned Businesses

Every one of us is an Indigenous person. We are all Indigenous to somewhere. Many of us have been away from that Indigenous part of ourselves for so long, but it’s still there inside us. If we can reconnect with it somehow, it will be so powerful.

Tanina Williams is an Indigenous Knowledge Keeper, storyteller, and the founder of amawílc, an Indigenous consultancy business with a focus on Truth and Reconciliation. Learn how she started and grew her crucial business.

Tanina Williams

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Tanina Williams

To achieve a $100 billion Indigenous economy requires a shift in how we relate to Indigenous peoples – to see Indigenous peoples as economic powerhouses in our own right

Carol Anne Hilton and the Indigenomics Institute are working towards an ambitious goal - growing the Indigenous economy to $100 billion within the next five years. Learn how she's planning to do it.

Carol Anne Hilton

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Indigenomics Institute

You can support Indigenous businesses in several ways. You can purchase their authentic products, and you can support them by sharing their social media posts - it doesn't have to be financial!

Aunalee Boyd-Good and Sophia Seward-Good grew up surrounded by art. They've turned their passion for art and design into Ay Lelum, The Good House of Design. Learn how this powerhouse sibling duo have achieved business success.

Aunalee Boyd-Good and Sophia Seward-Good

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Ay Lelum

I believe helping to create conditions for Indigenous women entrepreneurs to thrive is the single most natural, fast and effective pathway to economic reconciliation in our country.

Teara Fraser is the first Indigenous woman in Canada to start her own airline, with Iskwew Air lifting off in March of 2019. Learn how Teara is working to create connections across BC, while blazing a trail for other Indigenous women to follow.

Teara Fraser

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Teara Fraser

We talk a lot about conservation here at Sea Wolf Adventures and the best way to conserve and support your local community is to support the small businesses that live there.

Mike Willie is a member of the Kwikwasut’inuxw Haxwa’mis First Nation and founder of Sea Wolf Adventures. Discover his unique path into entrepreneurship, and the amazing work his business does along the BC coast.

Mike Willie

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Mike Willie owner of Sea Wolf Adventures

Other Ways Small Business BC Can Help Your Business

Small Business BC provides practical business education tailored for small businesses right here in BC. Whether you need help starting your business, hiring employees, managing operations, or anything else, Small Business BC is here to help. View our full calendar of business education.

Sign up for Small Business BC’s newsletter and be the first to discover our latest news, special offers, and practical resources for your small business. Sign up now, it’s free and easy!

Starting a business? Start with Small Business BC’s comprehensive list of free downloadable resources. We’ve got everything covered, from business plan templates, cash flow forecasting and our starting a business checklist. View Resources.

Join our free online hub of BC-based small businesses and reach a province-wide audience of engaged customers that are passionate about small business. Sign up now.

Our self-directed E-Learning courses are available anytime, anywhere. Each on-demand course consists of bite-sized topics filled with features like readings, handouts, videos and quizzes. Discover our range of E-Learning education today.

Read our simplified guide to each area of the start-up experience, highlighting the services and help you can lean on to achieve your goals.

10 Step Guide to Starting a Business

Start Grow, and Expand Your Business

The Western Canada Business Service Network (WCBSN) is a group of independent organizations that receive WD funds to help Western Canadians start, grow and expand their businesses.

Accelerated Growth Service

The Accelerated Growth Service (AGS) helps growth-oriented Canadian businesses to expand by helping them access the key government services they need to grow, such as financing, exporting, innovation and business advice.

We respectfully acknowledge our place of work is within the ancestral, traditional and unceded territories of the Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ilwətaʔɬ/sel̓ílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and that we serve the Peoples of the many Nations throughout British Columbia.