SPEAKER

Opening Ceremonies

Join Emcee Sunshine Tenasco, Kitigan Zibi Annishnebeg entrepreneur, author and activist, as she kicks off the 2023 SOAR Digital Gathering of Indigenous Entrepreneurs presented by Square and BDC.

Rachel Petero, Māori Founder of Rise Global, opens the SOAR gathering with a karakia (blessing), a ritual of Māori Indigenous Polynesian people of mainland New Zealand (Aotearoa) used to call upon and recognize the influence of atua (spiritual or supernatural beings/gods), our ancestors, and other aspects of the environment and our whakapapa (lineage/history) to invoke spiritual protection and guidance.

SacRED is a modern-day digital shape-shifter, storyteller through movement and medicine woman of the heart, on a mission to support all people and the planet to recognize truths of the past and present while returning to a natural rhythm of well-being for future generations. SacRED performs a spoken word and song that speaks to the rising of Indigenous leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators.

Martin Gurerro, Square’s Policy Partnerships & Community Education and Sandra Odendahl, BDC’s Senior VP & Head of Sustainability and Diversity, share opening remarks as the co-presenting partners of the 2023.

Make and Meaning Workshop: Create Your Sacred Space with Ecko Aleck

Join Ecko Aleck, the visionary founder of Sacred Matriarch Creative, as she guides Indigenous entrepreneurs on how to infuse ancestral wisdom into their business environments. In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn tangible methods to integrate traditional teachings, circle wisdom, and land-based practices into their workspaces. Ecko's approach emphasizes the significance of aligning one's professional realm with cultural roots for enhanced productivity and spiritual grounding. By the end, entrepreneurs will possess a toolkit of strategies to transform their business surroundings into nurturing hubs that resonate with Indigenous values, ensuring a balanced blend of tradition and modernity in their entrepreneurial journey.