EntrepreNorth welcomes a cohort of 12 Indigenous fashion entrepreneurs ready to elevate their business and the industry

Nunavut, Northwest Territories, Yukon - September 10, 2020 - EntrepreNorth is proud to announce the third cohort of its Entrepreneur Growth Program. The theme of this new cohort is Circumpolar Fashion.

​“We are very excited to welcome a new cohort of 12 inspiring Indigenous entrepreneurs - all women - who are ready to elevate Northern fashion through the power of entrepreneurship,” says EntrepreNorth Project Director, Benjamin Scott.

The Circumpolar Fashion Cohort includes:

Nunavut:

• Nicole Camphaug (ENB Artisan), who offers custom sealskin footwear (including stilettos and boots), sealskin purses and ottomans, and jewellery made of bone, tusk and antler *Based in Iqaluit*
• Papatsi Anrango Kotierk (Papatsi), who offers contemporary fur-trimmed parkas, sealskin mitts and custom blazers that highlight clean lines and colourful details *Based in Iqaluit*
• Lavinia Van Heuvelen (LVH Jewellery), who works primarily with sterling silver and natural materials gifted by or purchased from local hunters. Her designs are inspired by the North and directly reference traditional Inuit themes. *Based in Iqaluit*
• Melissa Attagutsiak (Nuvuja9), who creates couture garments, custom performance wear for Inuit artists, and jewellery made of caribou antler, baleen, ivory and sealskin. *Based in Iqaluit*
• May Ningeongan (Ujaraatsiaq’s Garments), who offers sealskin/fur parkas that blend traditional and contemporary designs, and custom dresses. Her business partner is her mother, Elizabeth Ningeongan, who has been sewing for 55 years.  *Based in Coral Harbour* ​​

Yukon:

• Robyn McLeod, who creates runway designs and jewellery that incorporates tanned hide, beadwork, quillwork and moose hair tufting. She is also a moose hide tanner and multidisciplinary artist. *Based in Ross River* 
• Vashti Etzel (Golden Eye Designs), who creates beaded mukluks, moccasins, wraps, vests, shawls, purses, mitts, gloves, and jewellery using hand tanned hide. Her work has won numerous awards and is featured in art galleries and boutiques. *Based in Faro* 
• Brenda Asp (BeLeev - Mind Body Spirit Gifts), who designs runway and ready-to-wear creations showcasing imagery of her beadwork. Brenda’s other creative endeavours include leatherwork and handmade jewellery. *Based in Haines Junction* 
• Kaylyn Baker, who designs eye-catching jewellery that features brightly coloured beads of all shapes and sizes and natural materials harvested from the land. She also makes slippers, mukluks, shawls, and has a purse  featured in the Yukon Permanent Art Collection. *Based in Whitehorse*

Northwest Territories:

• Erica Lugt (She Was A Free Spirit), who specializes in eye-catching, contemporary beaded jewellery that blends bold colour palettes. Her inspirations come from her Inuvialuit drum dance parka and quilts made by her grandmother and aunt. *Based in Inuvik* 
• Dorathy Wright (Willow Crescent Quilting), who makes renowned, one-of-a-kind quilts that incorporate her traditional knowledge and Gwich’in culture. She also makes children’s parkas and mitts and is opening a small craft store. *Based in Norman Wells* 
• Elizabeth Arey (Arctic Ocean Mocs), who sews sought-after beaded slippers that blend sealskin, fox fur and hide with beaded uppers depicting fireweed and other Northern elements. Her slippers sell out instantly online, and she has a growing list of custom orders. *Based in Tuktoyaktuk* 

“Our programming will be focused on meeting each entrepreneur where they are at, and working with them to scale their ventures in a balanced multi-directional approach that aligns with their own Indigenous worldview and values," says Project Director Benjamin Scott. "This year, our Industry Mentors will also play a key role in supporting the entrepreneurs’ business growth. These Mentors include designers Angela DeMontigny and Martha Kyak, jewellery artist Tania Larsson (Cohort 1 alum), and Riley Kucheran - Assistant Professor at the Ryerson School of Fashion.”

Beginning this September, these twelve Indigenous entrepreneurs from the three northern territories will embark on a nine-month personal and business growth journey. Through a unique combination of cohort-based learning, applied work sprints, one-on-one industry mentorship, and life coaching, the entrepreneurs will be supported in taking strategic steps to develop and grow thriving fashion businesses. They will have opportunities to showcase their ventures, build industry relationships across the North and Canada, and connect with EntrepreNorth’s growing ecosystem of entrepreneurs, facilitators, and guest speakers.

There is a growing market for Indigenous-made garments, jewellery and accessories. Through social media and initiatives like IFWTO, Adäka and GNAF, Indigenous designers are showcasing and selling their works to large, conscious audiences who are ready to invest and learn. This Circumpolar Fashion Cohort will empower participants to grow as Indigenous business leaders and build sustainable fashion businesses that reflect the beauty of where they come from. Over the course of the program, participants will be given the culturally-grounded tools they need to make a positive, sustainable impact on their community. 

“I’m really looking forward to growing and learning with the other women in this program. We all have so much creativity and inspiration to offer as artists and we are ready to develop as entrepreneurs. This is a unique opportunity to challenge ourselves in a supportive environment and work with Indigenous industry professionals who know what it takes to run a successful fashion business.” says Papatsi Anrango Kotierk, Cohort participant. 

The cohort will meet for the first time in Yellowknife and Whitehorse from Oct 9-16. Learn more about the entrepreneurs and their ventures on the EntrepreNorth website. 


About EntrepreNorth:
EntrepreNorth empowers Indigenous and community-based 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 the Yukon who are ready to elevate their business and community impact. EntrepreNorth is a project on MakeWay's shared platform, which provides operational supports, governance, and charitable expertise for changemakers. The shared platform enables more time and money to go towards achieving greater impact. MakeWay is a national charity that builds partnerships and solutions to help nature and communities thrive together. For more information, visit www.entreprenorth.ca.

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