2023 Indigenous Entrepreneur Awards
November 9, 2023 | Pow Wow Pitch, North America’s premier pitch competition for emerging Indigenous entrepreneurs, co-presented by RBC, Shopify, and Mastercard in partnership with Export Development Canada and the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada, presented Trina Mather-Simard from Curve Lake First Nation with the ITAC Tourism Award at the Third Annual Indigenous Entrepreneur Awards.
Trina was presented with the ITAC Tourism Award by Keith Henry, President and CEO of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada.
Trina Mather-Simard, a member of Curve Lake First Nation, has transformed Ottawa’s cultural landscape through Mādahòkì Farm.
Situated on unceded Algonquin Nation territory, Mādahòkì Farm stands as a year-round agritourism gem, with thousands of visitors each year, preserving Ojibwe (O-jib-way) spirit horses and igniting economic prosperity through its Indigenous marketplace, culinary experiences, cultural education and community collaborations.
As a trailblazing founder in the tourism sector, Trina champions authentic Indigenous experiences, forging a sustainable economic path.
Trina’s visionary journey is a testament to her unwavering commitment to Indigenous culture and sustainable tourism making Trina the ideal recipient of the Indigenous Tourism Association Tourism Award.
“I have lived and operated our organization, Indigenous Experiences, on the traditional unceded algonquin territory for over 25 years,” said Trina. “I am grateful to the organizers of pow wow pitch for this recognition and to all of their sponsors for making it possible. I am incredibly grateful for the strong team and community I have behind me at Indigenous Experiences and Mādahòkì Farm who share this honour, chi miigwetch.”
“We are honoured to celebrate the outstanding leaders in Indigenous entrepreneurship and tourism,” said Sunshine Tenasco, Founder of Pow Wow Pitch. “Congratulations, Trina, you are putting real Indigenous experiences on the map and we are so proud of your work to conserve culture, take up space, and support local Indigenous economies!”
To watch Trina’s feature, click here. To watch the full Awards show, click here.