In the past 3 years, Matchstick, a pilot project from Women Entrepreneurs Saskatchewan has offered business planning, mentoring, business advising and financing to over 300 Indigenous women entrepreneurs and now it will become a permanent service.
WESK is partnering with FHQ Developments from the File Hills Qu’Appelle First Nation to continue this project.
Along with helping women Indigenous entrepreneurs, WESK’s CEO Prahba Mitchell says the two organizations will address strategies to enhance diversity in the supply chains and in procurement.
FHQ Tribal Chief Edmund Bellegarde says there are challenges for Indigenous entrepreneurs and it’s compounded for Indigenous women.
He suggests rebuilding First Nations is not just about the economy – it’s about balancing the teachings from historic laws, customs and relationships, and a balance between male and female.
The challenges for Indigenous women entrepreneurs are similar to what non-Indigenous women face, and that includes access to financing, balancing family responsibilities with your business, lack of support within the community and limited access to business training.