Indigenous Peoples

The Lighting Up the North project from Yukonstruct aimed to strengthen the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem by supporting initiatives that build skills, tools and resources. The project funded seven unique initiatives with community partners to support the needs of entrepreneurs and innovators in the region.

EntrepreNorth, which has been offering a cohort-based entrepreneurial growth program for Northern and Indigenous entrepreneurs, launched a project to develop an app to support their learners and alumni in building businesses, raising capital and creating impact within their own communities. The project sought to develop an accessible and inclusive business tool that would provide a streamlined way for these entrepreneurs to share and access resources to support the growth and impact of their businesses.

Despite the labour shortage in forestry management in Canada’s North, there is a lack of innovative and engaging training methods and capacity to deliver reforestation skills to remote Indigenous communities. To help meet the need for this training, and to make it accessible and more engaging in digital form, the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) created two courses that featured immersive, 360° photos and videos, and a tool kit for instructors who do not have in-depth technical knowledge on how to develop immersive curriculum content.

MindFuel came alongside Indigenous communities to address the barriers faced by Indigenous youth in rural and remote communities by implementing STEM and innovation programs for youth.

Indigenous tourism is particularly crucial for Northern Canada, where it provides economic benefits and fosters community development, wellness, cultural learning and environmental stewardship.