SUPPORTING INDIGENOUS ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Pow Wow Pitch is a non-profit organization supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs across Turtle Island, purpose-built to provide a safe, collaborative, empowering, and culturally suppportive platform for inspiration, education, mentorship, celebration, and reconciliation through entrepreneurship.
We enhance, develop and accelerate growth for current and aspiring Indigenous entrepreneurs in a sustainable way through programs and resources. Our programs are rooted in community leadership through volunteerism as a reflection of respect and reciprocity.
VISION & MISSION
It’s about People. Our vision is for every Indigenous entrepreneur to feel supported by a community cheering them on as they take action on their ideas and build businesses rooted in Indigenous culture.
Our mission is to provide platforms, programs and resources to support Indigenous entrepreneurs to start and grow thriving and sustainable businesses that make a difference.
ACKNOWLEDGING OUR
POW WOW ROOTS
Pow Wow is a place to meet, dance, sing, honour our culture and trade. Indigenous people have the ideas to make a difference in their communities across Turtle Island and the world. Pow Wow Pitch is our platform to grow our social impact and support one another as a community.
OUR FOUNDER
Kwey, my name is Sunshine Tenasco, and I’m from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg.
I started Pow Wow Pitch because I believe entrepreneurship is the path to self-sufficiency. Entrepreneurship is a big part of Indigenous heritage. We used to call it trade— we are just reawakening to entrepreneurship.
Being on Dragons Den changed my life path. When Brett Wilson and Arlene Dickinson (two very influential business people) invested and believed in me, it gave me the courage to continue my entrepreneurship journey. I hope that Pow Wow Pitch helps to give that gift to someone else. I love seeing entrepreneurs succeed.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors is comprised of a group of accomplished Indigenous entrepreneurs and alumni of Pow Wow Pitch, as well as legal and financial experts, who are dedicated to ensuring good governance and financial stewardship of the organization.
Sunshine Tenasco
Karen Green
Jessica Zhang-Chapman
Matt Nahdee
Michaelee Lazore
ADVISORY COUNCIL
The Pow Wow Pitch Advisory Council comprises industry and government leaders who support Indigenous entrepreneurship and help guide the organization's ongoing growth and impact.
Jennifer M. Sloan
Gina Wilson
Kyle Brennan Shàwinipinesì
Tracy Antoine
Darian Kovacs
Althea Wishloff
Shannin Metatawabin
Todd Evans
TEAM
Pow Wow Pitch is run by a passionate and committed team and supported by volunteers and partners across Turtle Island.
Naomi Sarazin
Keely Thompson-Cook
