Making their mark in the world of business
About 100 Indigenous women entrepreneurs in Saskatoon this week were inspired by stories of struggle, perseverance and success. Four of the women shared their stories with Betty Ann Adam. Melissa Hardy Giles was frustrated with her job promoting Indigenous education at an Ontario university, where red tape prevented her from building needed relationships in communities. She and husband Paul Giles created a consulting company, finding openings in mining and industry, and helping people in Indigenous communities prepare for jobs.
Five years ago, the couple started Origin Inc., a labour supply company that has far exceeded the requirements of a $2.4-million government employment program contract. Using a classroom trailer, they take education to communities. The strong demand for heavy equipment operators led them to invest in four Caterpillar simulators that give people with no experience confidence in their abilities.
Wabanoonkwe operates her eponymous beauty business in Washington, D.C., and New York City. Raised by a single mother in a northern Ontario Ojibwa community, her tomboy childhood led her to a police academy. That path ended when an instructor told her she seemed more likely to “hand out a fashion violation than a citation.”
Now a makeup artist, beauty educator and motivational speaker, Wabanoonkwe began with a sports apparel business, then moved into promoting underground First Nations artists and musicians. By 2005, she’d sold both companies and created Turquoise Soul, embellishing contemporary accessories and clothing with beadwork. While Wabanoonkwe’s entrepreneurial spirit drives her success in business, she says she has “a philanthropy bone that I cannot stop picking at.”
“The passion I have is teaching makeup classes for self love for our First Nations youth and women in transition.” Nicole Robertson was a journalist with Global Television and CTV National in Toronto before starting the Edmonton bureau for APTN. Covering Indigenous stories, she saw communities and businesses that needed professional help dealing with the media. She set out to serve Indigenous communities and businesses, many of which distrusted the media. She creates bridges between the entities, helping communities convey their messages while providing information news organizations need.
A key to success in serving Indigenous clients is establishing and maintaining trusting relationships, she said.
She learned to run a business by taking professional development opportunities and at the school of hard knocks, she said.
Sarah Erasmus was fresh out ofa digital graphics program in Calgary when she returned to Yellowknife in 2010, keen to design and sell her own T-shirts. She soon found that printing companies constrained her creativity with their reluctance to change their methods to create the unique effects she wanted.
With financial backing from relations, Erasmus bought a screen printing machine and rented a garage. She soon filled a business niche printing clothing for local teams and businesses.
In the beginning, Erasmus paid herself minimum wage and kept a part-time job at the recreation centre to pay her own bills.
She prefers to serve the local market and is proud to employ and teach local people, while doing what she loves.