The Young Aboriginal Entrepreneur Award highlights the enterprising spirit of Aboriginal business leaders under the age of 35.
The prestigious award comes with a $10,000 dollar cash prize.
Nominations are closed for the 2020 Young Aboriginal Entrepreneur Award. Stay tuned for 2021 nominations to open!
2020 Young Aboriginal Entrepreneur
Shelley Stewart
Owner, Bar S Ventures
Raised in Douglas Lake on her parents’ ranch, Shelley Stewart’s father was a rancher and logger and her mother, an accountant. At age 8, Shelley told her father she would buy a logging truck when she got old enough so they could work together every day. At age 19, this ambitious young Syilx woman acquired her first logging truck and became an entrepreneur.
Now the owner of Bar S Ventures, Shelley began in the forest industry as a log hauling contractor shortly after the devastating McGillivray fire that consumed over 11,000 hectares of British Columbia’s forests in the summer of 2003. Today, Bar S Ventures specializes in conventional log harvesting and log hauling activities.
Over the last 15 years, Shelley has grown Bar S Ventures from a single truck venture to a full- phase, conventional logging operation, along with road building and log hauling divisions, and employing 27 full-time employees.
Bar S Ventures is among the largest forest sector employers in the interior of British Columbia and is an industry leader in fibre utilization. By optimizing the fibre, there is significantly less waste left in the forest, more wood enters into the markets, and employment opportunities in local communities are increased.
https://srstruckingltd.wixsite.com/barsventures/about
Kylik Kisoun Taylor
Owner/Guide
Tundra North Tours
Kylik is of Inuvialuit, Gwich’in and Scandinavian descent. He grew up in Ontario hunting, trapping and mushing dogs with his father. In 2003 Kylik made a permanent move to Inuvik, Northwest Territories where he felt a deep connection to his Inuvialuit and Gwich’in roots, his family, the land and his culture.
His uncles, Gerry Kisoun and Dennis Allen, as well as his Daduk (grandfather) Victor Allen, constantly took Kylik out in the bush where he learned the way of the land. They taught him the stories of his people and important cultural traditions and knowledge. Gerry helped him get his first caribou and Dennis taught him to build a bush camp. His Daduk Victor told him the old stories. With the help of his family, Kylik was able to become rooted in his culture and acquire the knowledge and skills needed to be out on the land on his own.
In 2006 Kylik started Up North Tours (now operating as Tundra North Tours) with the dream of being able to share his love of the Arctic and all it has to offer with visitors from around the world. As a bonus, he now spends a large portion of his time out on the land that he loves so much!
Kylik serves as a member of the Board of Directors on both the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada and Northwest Territories Tourism. He is one of Canadian Travelers Top 40 under 40.
Jordan Jolicoeur
Jordan Jolicoeur, President & CEO of Carvel Electric has proud Métis roots originating from the Interlake Region of Manitoba. Carvel Electric, founded by Jordan’s father Sylvio in 1997, had Jordan and his older brother Joel working evenings and weekends learning the electrical trade. Jordan, always an entrepreneur at heart, has a passion for business. In 2013 he decided to take over the family company after working throughout the province in many industrial and commercial settings. Handed down an old pickup truck, a bag of tools and a vision, Joel and Jordan, together, have grown Carvel Electric from a small residential service company to working with some of North America’s largest Railroads and Pipeline Companies. Together they pride themselves on building connections, creating community, and are guided by the strong values of a “handshake approach” to business. Carvel Electric has a vision to become a leader in Aboriginal employment and skills development.
Isabell Ringenoldus
Isabell Ringenoldus (First Nations), owns and operates TAWS Security, which provides physical security, mobile patrol security as well as many technological solutions and value added services to empower their clients and staff. TAWS Security is based on the Fort McMurray #468 First Nation in Anzac, Alberta. 100% of their ownership and management team are local Fort McMurray residents. Following the unfortunate and devastating event of the Fort McMurray wildfire, TAWS Security was able to showcase their ability and resources to immediately deploy both management and trained guards to the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo hours after the fire started. The Chief Operating Officer of TAWS Security was promptly appointed the position of Director of Private Security Service.
Jacob Pratt
Jacob Pratt is the founder and creative director of Wambdi Dance, and is a Dakota/Saulteaux member of the Cote First Nation in Saskatchewan. Wambdi was started in 2012, and is a First Nations performance and events company that provides music and dance performances, cultural camps, youth motivational workshops, and traditional storytelling. Wambdi’s aims are to represent First Nations/Native American people positively with pride and respect for their cultures and values; and to support First Nations/Native American talent by providing them with the opportunity to develop their own personal cultural identity. Jacob’s many talents include men’s traditional dancing, hoop dancing, and native flute playing. His debut album “Eagle Calls” won an Aboriginal Peoples Choice Award for Best Flute Album. He plans to expand Wambi nationally, and do international events that showcase the strength and vitality of First Nations in Canada.
Kendal Netmaker
Kendal Netmaker, Sweetgrass First Nation, Saskatchewan is the Founder and CEO of Neechie Gear™ – a lifestlye apparel brand conceived and built in part to empower Aboriginal youth through participation in sports.
Founding and Exclusive Award Sponsor
Savannah Olsen
Savannah Olsen, Cree from Saddle Lake, Alberta is the proud proprietor of the Old Faithful Shop located in Vancouver’s historic Gastown district. The shop is a modern day version of a general store that would have existed on its cobblestoned corner street over a hundered years ago. Savannah’s store boasts simple hand crafted products designed to stand the test of time inspired by a product mix that doesnt exist anywhere else.
