SPEAKER
Sunshine Tenasco
Founder
Pow Wow Pitch
Sunshine Tenasco is a mom of four kids from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg. She is a social entrepreneur and author who believes that business is an exciting place to create positive change. Sunshine launched Her Braids in 2015, a business that creates awareness about the issues of clean drinking water in First Nations communities through beaded pendants, workshops and her children's book, ‘Nibi's Water Song.’
She is also the Founder of Pow Wow Pitch, a non-profit that provides Indigenous entrepreneurs with a trusted community, mentorship, training, funds, customers and an audience to start and grow their business. Through Pow Wow Pitch, Sunshine is cultivating a culture of entrepreneurship in Indigenous communities across Turtle Island.
Opening Ceremonies
Join Emcee Sunshine Tenasco, Kitigan Zibi Annishnebeg entrepreneur, author and activist, as she kicks off the inaugural SOAR Digital Gathering of Indigenous Entrepreneurs presented by Square.
Bernice Clarke, Inuk Founder of Uasau Soap, opens the SOAR gathering with a qulliq (seal-oil, blubber or soapstone lamp, ᖁᓪᓕᖅ) burning ceremony.
Bree Island, also known as Auntie Bree, is a nehiyaw iskwew / Cree woman from Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, Treaty 8 territory. Auntie Bree is a visual artist and owner of Mixed Creatives, a GFX VFX studio. And she is here today to share the story and meaning of the SOAR logo she co-created with the SOAR team.
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 the future generations. SacRED performs a spoken word and song that speaks to the rising of Indigenous leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators.
Opening Circle: Breaking through the Struggle
Indigenous entrepreneurs discuss healing intergenerational trauma, reconnecting with ceremony, culture and community, reclaiming traditional ways of trade that reframe money as medicine, and how Indigenous people can support one another to soar.
Closing Reflections
Emcee Sunshine Tenasco shares her final reflections and invites all attendees to share their social handles and follow one another to support each other's businesses and growth.