NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY | 5
JUNE 2026
The 28-year-old believes he’s ideally positioned to help many First Nations around the province because he has lived experience, which differentiates him from many other business consultants. It also helps that he’s technologically savvy. “Nothing will be fixed overnight but I’m in it for the long haul,” he says. There are a lot of systemic barriers that continue to have a negative influence on First Nations’ youth but he believes he can be part of the solution to turn things in the right direction. “I was in that rez kid’s shoes 15 years ago. It took a lot of growing for me to get to where I am. I’m here to make a difference in Indigenous communities and focus on capacity development rather than extraction. I want to have relationships with community members and with leadership,” he says. “Ideally, I’d like to help a community out to the point where it doesn’t need my services anymore.” Niña Was . te is a side hustle for both Smoke sisters— Rayel works for Dreamcatcher Promotions while Tannis is an accountant — but they hope one day it could grow into a full-time gig. Rayel says she’s soaking up everything she can from Michelle Cameron, founder and CEO of Dreamcatcher, Canada’s largest Indigenous-owned promotional company. “Seeing someone who looks like you, talks like you and is from similar communities, can inspire you to take that leap. She has been a mentor for us,” she says. n
“We come from a family that loves to play games, like dice or cards, it’s what our family has always done. It’s a lot more fun when it’s giant-sized.” Niña Was . te is most definitely in growth mode, having recently purchased a trailer with the proceeds of a business loan. “That’s going to allow us to expand into more games and other items to rent. We’re definitely expanding this year. We’re part of the Indigenous Chamber of Commerce and we’re constantly networking to get our name out there,” she says. The Smoke sisters are far from the only young Indigenous entrepreneurs in Manitoba. After three years as an economic development officer at Norway House Cree Nation, Michael B. Monias decided he could make a bigger impact if he went out on his own. He founded Monias Consulting & Projects last October, a company specializing in strategic planning, operations, administration and governance. He believes this is a fantastic time to be an Indigenous entrepreneur, thanks in part to the growing number of Indigenous-themed programs at post-secondary institutions, including RRC Polytech, the University of Waterloo and the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies. “There are incubators popping up all over the place. Ten years ago, Indigenous entrepreneurialism was not talked about. It’s huge now. I’m helping my clients realize their entrepreneurial dreams. They’re realizing their worth now and it’s beautiful to see and experience first-hand,” he says.
One of the most popular ones with young Indigenous kids is Who Dis? an Indigenous spin on Guess Who?, the classic deduction game where two players take turns asking yes or no questions to identify a mystery character. “We didn’t have that kind of representation when we were kids. The kids who play today get to see people who look like them and they ask a lot of funny questions,” she says.
TEN YEARS AGO, INDIGENOUS ENTREPRENEURIALISM WAS NOT TALKED ABOUT. IT’S HUGE NOW. I’M HELPING MY CLIENTS REALIZE THEIR ENTREPRENEURIAL DREAMS. “ – Michael B. Monias “
PHOTOS SUBMITTED
Together, we celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day!
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2024-05-30 10:38 AM
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