EntrepreNorth

Benjamin Scott | Project Director

Benjamin Scott is a member of the Tłı̨chǫ Nation and a true Northerner at heart. He has a passion for supporting organizations to redefine business practice through an Indigenous worldview, and sharing business knowledge and tools to help build entrepreneurial leadership and capacity within communities. He is the creator of The Multi-Directional Business Compass which offers an Indigenous-centred perspective for thinking about business, community, and economic impact in a more circular and holistic way. The Compass framework now serves as the foundation of EntrepreNorth’s programming to empower Indigenous entrepreneurs to build sustainable business and livelihoods across Northern Canada. Benjamin offers strategic business services through Feed the Fire Business Consulting to support Indigenous focused organizations on pathways to economic self-determination, resurgence and resilience. He holds a MBA in Aboriginal Business and Leadership from SFU, a BA in Urban Studies from UofC, a Leadership Certificate from UofA, and is an Action Canada Fellow Alumni.​

Xina Cowan | Community Manager

​Xina lives and works in Yellowknife on Chief Drygeese Territory. Her ancestry is Irish, Scottish, and Mohawk and she is honoured to be learning her family's shared histories. After studying Human Relations at Concordia University in Montreal, Xina moved to the Eeyou Itschee Cree community of Wemindji in 2013 and began her career in Indigenous programming. Since then, Xina’s work has taken her all across the North. As EntrepreNorth’s Community Manager, her work centres on impact storytelling, community engagement, partnership development, and fundraising. She is also a certified Coach and has the privilege of working closely with EntrepreNorth's program participants as they develop their leadership skills. She is the Host and Producer of EntrepreNorth's new podcast series Venture Out which shares the brave stories of Northerners who are inspiring innovation and community wellbeing through business. ​
 
Prior to joining EntrepreNorth, Xina was the Development Manager for Indigenous projects at Youth Fusion and was also the Editor of WIOT Magazine at Rezolution Pictures. Her (not so) side passion is promoting Indigenous fashion designers and artists. She is a Marketplace Jury Member for Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto (IFWTO) and is particularly invested in supporting the incredible talent coming from the Circumpolar Arctic. 

Ashley Ens | Investment Catalyst Manager

Ashley comes from the Gwich’in nation, born and raised along Nagwichoonjik known in English as the Mackenzie River in Inuvik, NWT which is the sacred land of the Gwich’in. She spent several years living and learning on the shores of Tucho or Great Slave Lake in Yellowknife, NWT which is the traditional land of the Yellowknives Dene, Tłı̨chǫ, and Métis people. She currently resides with her family along the Old Man River in Lethbridge, Alberta which is the sacred land of the Blackfoot people. She is honored to be immersed in the culture and beauty of this territory. She has been gifted the name of Northern Dancer. She starts by explaining where she comes from because Indigenous work is place specific and has a responsibility and relationship to geographic spaces. 

Ashley is a mother of three children Hannah Rae, Zaky Boy and Rosie Rae, her partner is JR Manyfingers. She graduated with distinction from the University of Lethbridge with an undergraduate degree in Management in 2016. Then completed a Master of Science in Management degree at the University of Lethbridge in 2021. 
 
Her educational and professional background is in Management, Human Resources and Diversity and Inclusion. She worked for the public service for 13 years with her most recent accomplishment leading the team that produced the Living Well Together training the GNWT launched earlier this year. Ashley’s research covers areas of decolonizing education, Indigenizing the academy, and creating culturally safe places to learn. Throughout her research she used an Indigenous paradigm to look at the historical factors of colonialism, Indigenous resistance, Indigenous scholarship and trends in the academy that have shaped our current systems.

Tammy Oliver-Snook | Program Manager

​Tammy Oliver-Snook, B. Comm., CAPM, was born and raised in rural Newfoundland and Labrador, where she studied at Memorial University for a Bachelor of Commerce and a minor in Economics. Upon completion of her academics, Tammy received the Chevron Canada Ltd. Term Scholarship in Business, Earth Sciences, Economics, and Engineering. In her young career, she has worked in a variety of industries including banking, security, marketing, event planning, and now entrepreneurship.

Utilizing skills acquired from these varied positions, and with a list of goals to achieve in mind, Tammy is always eager to expand her knowledge and get involved any way she can. Active in her community, she is currently volunteering as a Board of Directors’ member with Habitat for Humanity Northwest Territories based out of Yellowknife, NT as well as a Strategic Relations Lead committee member with Women in Project Management based out of Edmonton, AB.

She enjoys communicating with others and problem-solving by taking a big-picture perspective without losing sight of details. Tammy has always been passionate about inclusion and women empowerment. During her time as Miss Newfoundland and Labrador 2018, she had a goal to encourage women of all age groups and backgrounds to be themselves, unapologetically.

Rilee-Anne Lloyd | Finance Manager

Rilee Lloyd was born and raised in rural Manitoba. She graduated from the Professional Program of the School of Contemporary Dancers in affiliation with the University of Winnipeg; obtaining a BA honours degree in fine arts. She was awarded membership into the Golden Key International Honour Society for academic achievement. She had the opportunity to perform, choreograph, and teach across Canada during her contemporary dance career.

When Rilee retired as a dancer she began taking accounting courses through the CPA Western School of Business. She went on to obtain her Chartered Professional Accounting designation. Rilee has spent most of her accounting career working in public practice in Audit and Assurance services. Although she worked on engagements in many different industries, she primarily worked with not-for-profit and agriculture clients.

​Rilee previously served as a volunteer board member for the Prairie Fusion Arts and Entertainment organization. She believes art plays a vital role in community. 

​Lucia Nakehk’ǫ | Youth Intern

Lucia Nakehk’ǫ is the granddaughter of Jim Antoine (Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́) and Celine Antoine (Łutselk’e) and daughter of Deneze (Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́) and Heather Nakehk’o (Sycamore). She was born and raised in Yellowknife, NWT and recently graduated from high school. She just started her newest life chapter in Vancouver, BC. and is EntrepreNorth's Youth Intern! Her role is working with up-and-coming entrepreneurs from across the North and offering support in the realms of e-commerce, marketing and communications. She works closely with our Community Manager and is exploring a range of professional development opportunities. Lucia is also a part-time studio assistant for Cohort Alum and Advisor Tania Larsson. 

Shirley Adamson | Elder in Residence

Shirley Adamson was born for Ágüná (the Wolf Clan), is an elder of the Tagïsh Ch’än and citizen of the Tà’án Kwäch’an Council. Currently Ms. Adamson is a curriculum developer of the Tagish language for the Yukon Native Language Centre and instructs its credit course for Simon Fraser University. She also is developing and instructing a non-credit course of the Tà’án Kwäch’an dialect. She is a Trustee and Chair of the Yukon First Nations Languages Trust. A life-long advocate of aboriginal languages, cultures, and rights she focuses on helping with Yukon First Nations youth and elders. Ms. Adamson actively promotes the rights of Aboriginal Peoples through public speaking engagements, presenting workshops and as a mentor to many youth and youth groups.
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Ms Adamson’s elected and appointed positions have included in part: Chairperson of the Tà’án Kwäch’an Council; Yukon Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations; Grand Chief of Council of Yukon First Nations; she served as the CEO of Northern Native Broadcasting, Yukon, CEO of Keyah Productions Inc., Director and Chair of the Board of the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network; Director with Northern Vision Development, Director of the Board for Da Daghay Development Corporation, Chair of the Lanalxh Prosperity Trust; Trustee with the Yukon Hospital Corporation and Chair of its First Nations standing committee; Board member of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, during her tenure she sat on its Executive Committee Governance Committee and Aboriginal Issues Committee, which she also chaired.

Brad Poulter | Entrepreneur in Residence

Brad Poulter is a born and raised northerner and the founder of Barctic Technology: a Yellowknife-based technology and marketing firm. Its software has helped thousands of mainly Canadian companies sell products around the world. Barctic has also worked with dozens of northern companies and organizations to help them build technological capacity and systems to help them compete globally.
 
After fishing his honours Degree in Business from the University of British Columbia, Brad returned to the North to do communications work for the Office of the Premier. After a brief stint as a scuba dive master, Brad served 10 years managing business service programs and communications at the Business Development and Investment Corporation. He also taught marketing at Aurora College.
 
Brad is an avid adventure seeker, investor, educator and technology enthusiast with a passion to better the north through entrepreneurship, innovation and home-grown out of the box ideas. He offers 1-1 support to our program participants in the areas of e-commerce, web design, and digital marketing.