For Immediate Release - Northern and Indigenous entrepreneurs feed their passion for food by sharpening business and leadership skills

Nunavut, Northwest Territories, Yukon - October 5, 2021 - Starting this week EntrepreNorth is welcoming a new cohort into its Entrepreneur Growth Program. The theme of this 2021-2022 cohort is local food which is integral to our economies, daily health and wellbeing, and growing sovereignty as communities and Nations.

The making and sharing of food brings communities closer together and connects us to the land and our ways of life. This cohort is bringing together a group of entrepreneurs from across the North who are passionate about sharing their love of food with others. “We look forward to supporting this group of entrepreneurs with new business skills to offer products that bring a sense of culture and place to our tables” says EntrepreNorth Project Director, Benjamin Scott.

The 2021-2022 Local Food cohort includes:

Nunavut:

• John Niakrok, who is Inuk and enjoys preparing dishes with caribou and Arctic char he has harvested himself. He likes to cook food not available at local restaurants, like donairs, pancit noodles, donair garlic fingers and donair poutine. The takeout restaurant and food truck that John is planning to open will be a welcome addition to the food scene in "the hub of the Kivalliq." *Based in Rankin Inlet*

 

• Nuka Fennell, who was b​orn and raised in Iqaluit, Nunavut by a large, mixed family. They are a Chef who has worked in the culinary industry for ten years and owns a catering company called Fireweed. Their repertoire features robustly flavoured dishes that centre natural and sustainable ingredients, nourish body and spirit, and cultivate comfort. Chef Fennell is a non-binary trans person. They are also proud to be one of Canada's most northern amateur drag performers. *Based in Iqaluit*

Northwest Territories:

• Shayna Allen, who is Inuvialuk and owns a food truck called InuvikEats. Shayna’s culinary creations are best described as fusion. She loves learning about other cultures and then designing savoury dishes that meld the flavours and techniques of their cuisine with local northern ingredients (for example, her beloved “Nice Pho What?” soup). When Shayna isn’t operating her food truck, she is catering and offering cooking classes. *Based in Inuvik*
  
  
• Lance Raddi Gray, who is Inuvialuk and owns Gray’s Harvest. He has a deep appreciation for all the plants and medicines that grow in the North. Gray’s Harvest is committed to sustainably harvesting local plant ingredients and transforming them into usable/consumable products, including delectable teas, syrups, and oil infusions. The Gray’s Harvest team makes products they like to use, knowing their clients will love them too. *Based in Inuvik*
  
  
• Kaitlyn White-Keyes, who is originally from the southern reaches of Treaty 8 territory and owns Ever Sweet Company. Her business is located in Yellowknife (where she has spent most of her life) and serves up small-batch artisanal caramels, traditional candies and locally crafted treats. Profits from Ever Sweet Company will go toward developing a safe, land-based healing space for Northerners living with addiction. Kaitlyn is in the business of ‘doing good’ while satisfying her customers’ sweet tooth. *Based in Yellowknife*

Yukon:

• Scott & Jackie Dickson, who have been married for 24 years and are partners in life and in business. They are the owners of Takhini River Ranch, located on Ta’an Kwäch’än territory (Scott  is a member of the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council). Their business provides customers with a full farm-to-table experience: they raise the animals, grow the feed, and process the meat on site using a mobile abattoir. In addition to ensuring high quality meat, having control over the entire process allows Scott and Jackie to work closely with local chefs to develop tailored products. *Based in Takhini River Valley
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• Allison Kormendy, who is Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and Yupik and is a holistic nutritionist. She is the Owner and Operator of Wild Roots, a small business promoting holistic nutrition and well-being on a cellular level. Wild Roots connects Allison’s traditional teachings with contemporary science and holistic health. Customers can enjoy a diverse range of products that prioritize local ingredients including teas, “boosts,” therapeutic elixirs, and the best-selling Klondike Kombucha. *Based in Dawson City*
  
  
• Teresa Ward, (otherwise known as Grandma Treesaw) has long been making Teslin Tlingit-style bannock for her friends and family in the Yukon. In 2014, Teresa started selling premixed bags of her famous bannock recipe (crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside) and she hasn’t looked back since. Today, customers far and wide can enjoy a true taste of the Yukon by ordering Teresa’s bannock mix from her online store. Teresa is a grandmother of eight with one more on the way! *Based in Teslin*

 

• Christine Lewis, who is Northern Tutchone, and is opening a food truck called Bannock Slap. The name of her business comes from a memory of the first time she made bannock with her mother (who gave her the bannock to slap raw). Bannock Slap will feature a menu of local, traditional and contemporary flavours. Customers can enjoy a variety of bannock options along with ice creams and teas featuring seasonal produce. ​Christine’s goal is to be the change she wants to see, starting with Bannock Slap. 

Beginning this month, these eleven entrepreneurs are embarking on a nine-month personal and business growth journey. Through a unique combination of cohort-based learning, applied work sprints, one-on-one business mentorship and professional coaching, the entrepreneurs will be supported in taking strategic steps to develop and grow thriving food businesses. A key part of the experience will be learning from each other, building industry relationships across the North and Canada, and connecting with EntrepreNorth’s growing ecosystem of supporters.

“I’m really looking forward to harnessing my skills as an entrepreneur with the other members of this program. There is so much involved in operating a food business and it feels good to know that we’re all on this journey together. We are creative, innovative people with a deep desire to connect with others through food and culture. The talent and determination is there, and we now have the opportunity to learn about business in a way that resonates with who we are as Indigenous people,” says Lance Raddi Gray, Cohort participant. 

To learn more about the entrepreneurs and their ventures, visit the local food cohort page.


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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Xina Cowan, Community Manager | EntrepreNorth
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