Insights & Ideas Jun 2023

INSIGHTS & IDEAS: The NIWEE Newsletter

June Issue 2023

This Newsletter is published the second Tuesday of each month. ten times per year except for the months of July and December.

Affiliations

Who, What and When

Meet NIWEE’s Emerging Entrepreneurs P4

DON’T MISS THESE VIRTUAL EVENTS, FOOD for THOUGHT, and OPPORTUNITIES HAPPENING SOON

Dead Dead-Line Apply Before 30 July 2023

Recruitment

If you are an Indigenous women interested in launching or scaling an early-stage business. – We are here to help you make it happen! Get up to 3-years of support FREE for info, go to: NIWEE.ca/en/courses

Watch for your e-mail Invitations starting Mid-July

Online Events

Women and the Vision of Things

Vision is a must-have for entrepreneurial leadership, regardless of gender. Our guest speaker will share her thoughts on women’s use of different process than men for shaping the future. Date Aug 15, 2023

Building your business vision

How do you look for gaps in the market and ways your business can innovate?

Date: Aug 29, 2023

Path to Business Model Innovation

$$$ Earn Dollars with NIWEE P3

Become a NIWEE member Provides great benefits and It’s FREE For info go to: niwee.ca/en/become-a-member/adhesion/

Creating a framework to make innovating your business model a continual, inclusive process. What should be core to your business, and what should be adaptable to market changes?

Date: Sep 12, 2023

Do YOU have business experience and have time to coach and mentor new entrepreneurs or early-stage business owners? For info go to:

https://www.niwee.ca/en/become-avolunteer

Meet NIWEE’s Partner

The Institute for Science, Society and Policy (ISSP) is a cross-faculty Institute at the University of Ottawa exploring the links between science, society and policy uottawa.ca/research - innovation/ISSP

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Are you an Indigenous woman 17 years of age or older interested in launching or scaling a business of your choice?

Are you interested in developing or enhancing your entrepreneurial skills but you don’t know where to start?

Twenty Indigenous women interested in entrepreneurship will be recipients of Grandmother Moon Fellowship for a program start in September 2023.

Dead line to enroll July 30th, 2023

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Make no mistake – you’ll set the goals and do the hard work – but we will help you acquire basic business knowledge and provide you with coaching, mentorship, networking, resources for up to 36 months. It will lead you to insights you may have never discovered on your own and help you realize your full potential.

You may apply to NIWEE at any time. But if we receive your application before July 30 and are selected your start date will be September 13, 2023. Applications received after July 30 their names will posted on a waiting list.

• As a Grandmother Moon Fellow, the program will be FREE to you.

• Our experiential training and coaching program is built on the mixed used of Indigenous and Western world views.

• NIWEE’s training approach is SEE, PRACTICE and DO, meaning you work on your business as you learn.

• Participants starting in September will be provided with two, thirteen (13) weeks modules. The first is a Basic Business Course, the second module is on Building Your Business Architecture

• As you move forward over time, we will provide you with coaching and mentorship for you to nurture and scale your business and to prepare your business for acceleration. In addition, we will provide you with up to 36 months of support, coaching, mentorship, resources, etc.

• To read more about the program go to NIWEE.ca/courses or to book a Free Information session go to niwee.ca/en/book-a-freeinfo-session you may also get a copy of our brochure, click here

National Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs’ Ecosystem

Never Give Up When Launching a Business

For several reasons, persisting in the early stages of launching a business is crucial Here are some key points highlighting the importance of perseverance:

Overcoming Challenges: The early stages of any business are often fraught with challenges and obstacles. There will be numerous hurdles along the way, from developing a viable product or service to establishing a customer base and generating revenue Keeping going allows you to face these challenges, learn from them, and find creative solutions.

Building Resilience: Starting a business requires resilience and the ability to bounce back from setbacks. You develop a strong mindset and build strength by persevering through the early stages. This resilience will serve you well in the long run as you encounter future challenges in your entrepreneurial journey.

Learning and Adaptation: The early stages of a business are a learning process. Each setback, failure, or mistake offers an opportunity to gain valuable insights and make necessary adjustments. Learning and not giving up, you can learn from these experiences and adapt your strategies accordingly. This iterative process is crucial for refining your business model and increasing your chances of success.

Building Momentum: Persistence in the early stages helps you build momentum and establish a foundation for growth. It takes time to gain traction and create awareness among your target audience. By consistently working towards your goals and persevering through initial struggles, you increase your chances of gaining momentum, attracting customers, and building a positive reputation.

Testing and Refining Ideas: The early stages of a business are an ideal time to test your ideas, products, and strategies. Keeping going allows you to gather feedback, iterate on your offerings, and refine your value proposition. This continuous improvement process is crucial for finding product-market fit and ensuring the long-term viability of your business.

Long-Term Vision: Starting a business requires a long-term perspective. It's important to remember your vision and the reasons why you embarked on this entrepreneurial journey in the first place. By not giving up, you stay committed to your goals and keep your long-term vision in mind, even during challenging times.

Remember, successful businesses are rarely built overnight. They require perseverance, dedication, and a willingness to learn from failures. By not giving up in the early stages, you increase your chances of overcoming obstacles, refining your business model, ultimately achieving your entrepreneurial goals and becoming an inspiration to many, many women

Enjoy your path to success

The NIWEE Team

$$$ Earn a Few Dollars with NIWEE

If you have an Entrepreneurship story you would like to share, please send it along with a clear photo of yourself and your name, address and phone number by e-mail to NIWEE.ca/info. This story could be about your personal experience as a business owner. Or, it could be a short interview of a woman entrepreneur that you appreciate. By submitting your story, you are granting NIWEE.ca permission to use it and your photo in NIWEE’s Newsletter, on our website and/or in future special issue publications. Submission may be edited for style. If your article is published you will be paid an amount of One Hundred and Fifty dollars ($150.00). No articles submitted will be returned because of potential submission volume.

Do you have an Act of Kindness of your Own to Share? Please e-mail it, along with your name, address, phone number, and a clear photo of yourself to NIWEE.ca/info. By submitting your Act of Kindness, you are granting NIWEE.ca permission to use it and your photo in NIWEE’s Newsletter, on our website and/or in future special issue publications. Submission may be edited for style. If your article is published you will be paid an amount of Fifty dollars ($50.00). No articles submitted will be returned because of potential submission volume.

Meet Four of our 2022 Entrepreneurs

Some exceptional women are starting their own businesses and others who have already achieved a lot. These women are Indigenous entrepreneurs, leaders, and supporters committed to helping their communities' underserved members. They also share their distinct culture and innovative solutions with the broader market. Their skills and dedication enhance their economic well-being and that of their families, communities, and nations Be sure to watch out for them - they will make a big impact in the future. Meet…

Denise Anne, an Anishnaabe citizen, honours her Ancestors on Manitoulin Island, connecting to Ketegaunseebee Garden River First Nation in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Mother of three adult children, Nokomis grandmother to four grandchildren who are learning Indigenous ways of being, knowing, selfsufficiency, and contributing to Canada’s society. Located in Ottawa, Denise Anne’s business provides Advisory Services to Law Firms, Justice, Stakeholders and other Professionals. She operates under the brand name of Boissoneau Indigenous Justice Advisory. http://www.linkedin.com/in/denise-anne-boissoneau/

Blaine is a proud Winnipeg native and a devoted mother of five. She's an ambitious entrepreneur who runs her own cleaning business, Blaine’s Custom Services Inc. With over 40 families already relying on her services, Blaine aims to expand her business into a full-service cleaning corporation. In the future, she hopes to develop a line of cleaning products for retail stores across Canada. For now, though, she remains dedicated to providing top-notch cleaning services to her customers. Her business philosophy is simple: always serve your customers well and keep a positive attitude. https://www.blaynesservices.com

Teio, Teiosakentison, which translates to “Shaking Reeds.” Her last name is Elijah. Back in 2014, she founded and launched a sewing and beading business called Shaking Reeds Designs. She created custom-made Iroquois-style clothing and accessories for men, women and children. She is from the Mohawk Nation of Akwesasne, a Wolf clan member. Her business now employs her full-time. She is a mother of three children. oe aspires for her business, “Shaking Reeds Designs,” to leave a unique and impressionable mark in the world of art by promoting cultural pride through her designs. As she focuses on design, she aims to mentor young Indigenous girls looking to learn the unique characteristics of the “Shaking Reeds Designs application.” mailto:shakingreeddesigns@hotmail.com

Amanda hails from Bunibonibee Cree Nation, also known as Oxford House, MB, and she's the oldest of twelve siblings. She's grateful for her tight-knit family and thanks her parents and grandparents for keeping their unique traditions and language alive in their household. As an entrepreneur, Amanda creates various items such as earrings, moccasins, mitts, bags, and jingle dresses. However, her real passion is designing ribbon skirts and shirts, which she's been doing for the past four years. Her artwork is heavily influenced by her First Nation's healing process, which she seamlessly blends with her creative practice. Amanda's grandmother was her inspiration, and she followed in her footsteps by cutting her ribbon from fabric and matching each skirt's needs with store-bought stripes. Amanda's goal is to continue producing skirts and other pieces while also using her artwork to deliver healing workshops. These workshops will allow mothers and children to learn the sacred teachings passed down from their grandmothers about creating ribbon skirts. Contact Amanda at http://www.facebook.com/amandagrieves

Join NIWEE as a member, it’s Free Open to Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. See your benefits: to learn more & to apply: niwee.ca/en/become-a-member/adhesion/

Benefits: Free access to Webinars and Recordings or Watch on Demand Attend as many Webinars and Workshops as you wish at no extra charge Free access to all e-Books and Articles published Free Newsletters. Participate in our Panel Discussions. Private Community Space to connect with others on similar interests You will be given a free login account.