For Immediate Release – Ten digital creatives will spend the next nine months honing their business, leadership and networking skills

Nunavut, Northwest Territories, Yukon – September 26, 2022 – Launching this week, the 2022-23 cohort of EntrepreNorth’s Entrepreneur Growth Program will bring together ten digital creatives, including filmmakers, graphic designers, musicians, visual artists, videographers, and sound engineers, from across the three territories for a nine-month personal and business growth journey.

There is a growing demand for digital services and content that are Indigenous-owned and produced, culturally relevant, and authentic. This demand coupled with the proliferation of video streaming technology and content sharing platforms, and greater access to high-speed internet in the North is creating new opportunities for Indigenous entrepreneurs in remote locations to build digital-driven businesses. 

“EntrepreNorth is excited to support a talented group of Indigenous creatives who are helping to grow the digital arts and media sector across the North. Our programming  will help them to hone their business and leadership skills, access mentorship, and develop industry connections to expand their market reach and impact in a way that honours their own culture, languages, and worldviews.” says EntrepreNorth’s Founding Project Director, Benjamin Scott.
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The 2022-23 Digital Creatives Cohort includes:

Nunavut:

• Ipeelie Ootoova, an actor, writer, and director from Mittimattalik (Pond Inlet). Ipeelie first appeared on screen in John Houston’s The White Archer in 2010. In 2013, he was nominated for a Best Actor Award at the American Indian Film Festival for his portrayal of Natak in Maïna (2013). Now living in Cambridge Bay, Ipeelie is working to create opportunities in the northern film industry for Inuit living outside of the territorial capital of Iqaluit. 
   
• Siku Rojas, a non-binary Inuk artist and designer from Iqaluit, Nunavut. Through their business, YURAK, Siku offers a wide range of services including brightly coloured illustrations, sharp logo designs, eye-catching album covers, and one-of-a-kind paintings and jewellery pieces. Their goal is to become a full-time artist and to create opportunities for other creatives in Iqaluit including a land-based art studio, community runways for seamstresses and upcoming designers, and a culturally safe tattoo studio where Inuit can receive their kakkiniit and tunniit. 

 

• Rico Manitok, a videographer from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. Rico’s introduction to the arts scene came in 2018 when he joined the cast and crew of the theatrical show Kiviuq Returns. He went on to work and train with Chickweed Arts in Iqaluit, which in turn paved the way for his entry into the Nunavut film industry. After moving back to Rankin in 2020, Rico created Manitok Media to provide the communities of the Kivalliq with videography services. 

Northwest Territories:

• Brandon Larocque, a musician and sound engineer born and raised in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, but with deep roots in Tuktuyaaqtuuq. A graduate of the digital audio engineering program at Pixel Blue College in Edmonton, Brandon has released several albums that he produced, recorded, mixed, and mastered as BrandonSonnet. He has also scored and created original Foley sound effects for multiple short films. Brandon launched Rowhouse Rec to provide quality sound work in the North.

 

• Cody Fennell, an artist and illustrator from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Working under his own name, Cody Fennell Design, Cody has created original movie posters and DVD cover art for the likes of Spike Lee; directed award-nominated music videos; and designed gig posters, shirt designs, and album covers for a variety of talented musicians. Moving forward, Cody wants to collaborate with new clients and continue to innovate, creating products for the North and beyond, and inspiring the next generation of northern creatives just as he was inspired as a child.

 

• Elaine Landry, a Dene illustrator and designer from Zhatıé Kų́ę́ (Fort Providence) in the Dehcho region of the Northwest Territories. Elaine has been making art for more than 15 years and digital art for a decade. Although best known for her work as an illustrator, Elaine also loves designing clothing and accessories. Since 2017, Elaine has been selling her creations at a variety of venues from Indigenous craft shows in the North to comic conventions in Alberta. 

 

• Jamie Wetrade-Stevenson, a Tłı̨chǫ photographer from Behchokǫ̀, Northwest Territories. Introduced to photography at 14, Jamie turned her hobby into a career when she was 18. Working under the banner of Jamie Stevenson Photography, Jamie is the North’s premier boudoir photographer. She also works closely with Dene make-up artist Karen Murray on artistic shoots and is regularly contracted to photograph events across the territory. 

 

• Melaw Nakehk’o, a Dehcho Dene and Dënesųłıné artist born and raised in Denendeh (also known as the Northwest Territories). Melaw is a visual artist who paints, sews and beads. She is also a traditional moosehide tanner. Her work reviving and teaching moosehide tanning techniques has inspired a resurgence of the practice and shaped a broader community building movement within Canada. In addition to teaching land-based Indigenous art practices, Melaw works creatively through performance art, contemporary visual art, public art, filmmaking, and graphic recording. 

Yukon:

• Brian Ladue, a videographer and producer and member of the Ross River Dena Council. Brian came to digital video storytelling through work with Kaska Nation governments gathering traditional knowledge, mapping, and documenting stories and language. Inspired by the power and potential of digital mediums for storytelling, Brian started a video production company, now known as Northern Wild Productions. With experience in the documentary, educational, and promotional genres, Brian is eager to explore new genres and opportunities. 

 

• Nick Johnson, a hip hop artist and member of the Kluane First Nation based in Whitehorse, Yukon. After completing film school in Vancouver in 2010, Nick and Yudii Mercredi (Vuntut Gwitchin) formed a hip hop duo called Vision Quest. Producing music that reflects their experiences as Indigenous youth living in northern Canada, Vision Quest’s lyrics weave together Indigenous languages and social, political and economic issues facing Indigenous people across Canada and the world. 
  
  

Through a unique combination of cohort-based learning, applied work sprints, one-on-one business mentorship, professional coaching, and investment-readiness support, these ten entrepreneurs will be supported in taking strategic steps to develop and grow thriving businesses that provide digital services and content to the North and beyond. A key part of the experience will be learning from each other, building industry relationships across the three territories and Canada, and connecting with EntrepreNorth’s growing ecosystem of supporters.

“When I first became an entrepreneur, it was difficult to find the necessary information and resources to build a business and I didn’t have access to an entrepreneurial mentor. The EntrepreNorth program is so important because it provides northern entrepreneurs with these critical tools for launching and expanding their businesses. As importantly, it creates a safe space for Indigenous business owners to learn and grow together. I’m excited to see what the next nine months brings us!” says Jamie Wetrade-Stevenson, cohort participant. 

To learn more about the entrepreneurs and their ventures, visit the Digital Creatives Cohort page.

About EntrepreNorth:
EntrepreNorth empowers Indigenous entrepreneurs to build sustainable businesses and livelihoods across northern Canada. EntrepreNorth delivers culturally-grounded business programming to early-stage entrepreneurs in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon who are ready to elevate their business and community impact. EntrepreNorth is a project on MakeWay's shared platform. For more information, visit www.entreprenorth.ca.
Website: entreprenorth.ca | Social Media: @entreprenorth | #innovationspirit

MEDIA CONTACT
Xina Cowan, Community Manager | EntrepreNorth
E: xina@entreprenorth.ca 
T: 1 (514) 606-1226