By: Belinda Nelson
The 14th annual Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship Camp wrapped up this week in Regina.
A total of 19 students from across Canada gathered to learn about entrepreneurship and small business management.
This camp is hosted annually by the First Nations University of Canada, Regina Campus.
The students focused on topics ranging from marketing to business plans. They learned through workshops, group projects, and presentations.
“It feels like a privilege. It’s a really beautiful building. Good camp,” said Ethan Gregoire, who came all the way from the Nawa-Sheesh reserve in Newfoundland.
The students are given the opportunity to come up with their own business ideas. Antoun Hafner, from the George Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan, says he’s considering a business in some type of herbal tea or maybe a salve for skin conditions.
Danielle Lumberjack is the Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship Camp Coordinator at the FNUC.
“We’re giving them a foundation of entrepreneurship in business. What it’s like to be studying business going to school for business,” says Lumberjack.
Students were invited to the Venue B Coffee Lounge and Events Centre for some training.
“I want students to know that if they have a goal they can definitely reach it even if they don’t have any experience in that area,” said Michelle Brooks, owner of Venue B Coffee Lounge and Events Centre.
Brooks shared her journey with the students.
“You’re always going to have somebody to mentor to give you some information and I want the students to know that if they have any kind of question they can come to they that they can come to someone, like myself who’s gone through all this information and can help them”, says Brooks.
Camps like this give youth the chance to gain important tools.
“I’ll tell my mom that I’m very thankful to let me know about this because it will help me in the future,” said Gregoire.
The Indigenous Youth Entrepreneur Camp is a free 5-day opportunity for young people to connect with likeminded peers and get hands-on learning.
“I have goals and dreams, and it seems far away, but if I can keep working towards it then I eventually will make it.” Hafner said.
To learn more about the camp, visit fnuniv.ca.
(Photo credit: Shandra Bird)