Events & Gatherings

Bringing Northerners Together

EntrepreNorth’s events are designed to bring people together – Indigenous entrepreneurs, local leaders, and partners from across the northern business ecosystem. These events and gatherings, which we host throughout the year, bridge connections and spark new ideas that support community innovation and wellbeing.

I loved the chance to connect with genuine people who bring their values and knowledge into everything they do. Everyone was so kind and authentic, and I’m so grateful for the connections I made and the inspiration that came out of it! Seeing the entrepreneurs support one another with so much love gave me a lot of hope for the North and how communities can grow their own economies. I also really enjoyed getting to do things with my hands at the caribou tufting workshop and Sinew Fund launch; it was such a good balance to all the listening and talking.

– Conference Participant, Empowering Innovation Spirit 2025

Empowering Innovation Spirit Conference
August 26–28, 2025 • Chief Drygeese Territory, Yellowknife, NT

In August 2025, we hosted our inaugural Empowering Innovation Spirit Conference on Chief Drygeese Territory in Yellowknife, NT. The first gathering of its kind in the North, the conference brought together Indigenous entrepreneurs, innovators, youth leaders, policy-makers, funders, and allies from across Northern Canada, the Arctic, and beyond.

Over three days, +150 participants engaged in a dynamic mix of cultural immersion, knowledge-sharing, and future-focused conversations. Highlights included:

  • A day of cultural excursions connecting with land, people, and place

  • Two days of programming featuring keynote speakers, expert panels, and hands-on workshops on Indigenous entrepreneurship and innovation

  • A welcome reception that fostered meaningful networking and relationship-building

  • A cultural gala showcasing an Indigenous culinary experience led by Gwich’in chef Stephanie Baryluk of Nihkhah

Guided by EntrepreNorth’s Four Directions of Change, the conference explored how entrepreneurship can:

  • Strengthen Northern policy and advocacy for Indigenous-led innovation

  • Promote healthy culture and communities through business

  • Support sustainable livelihoods rooted in land stewardship

  • Advance economic reconciliation and justice through values-aligned capital and investment

The Empowering Innovation Spirit Conference set the stage for new relationships, bold ideas, and shared visions for thriving Northern futures. Stay tuned for details on next year’s conference.