A podcast series that shares the brave stories of Indigenous Northerners who are inspiring innovation and community wellbeing through business. Hosted by EntrepreNorth's Co-Director Xina Cowan
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18 recent
54 min
Chef Steph Baryluk is taking up space in global kitchens
Meet Chef Steph: a proud Teetl’it Gwich’in Red Seal Chef and founder of Nihkhah. In this episode, Steph shares her journey of building an Indigenous-led culinary business rooted in the teaching, "we share what we know and we share what we have." Drawing from her Arctic upbringing and deep connection to food as a space for gathering and healing, she reflects on entrepreneurship, Indigenous food systems, and what it means to lead with values while shaping the future of food for generations to come.Check out Nihkhah.ca
43 min
Les Walker is building new spaces to lead and grow in the North
Meet Les Walker: Owner and CEO of Walker Home Construction in Whitehorse, Yukon, and a proud member of Champaign Aishihik First Nation.Les’s journey is one of transformation; from early challenges to building a thriving construction company that creates more than homes and community spaces. At the heart of his business is a powerful philosophy: cultivating warriors within our community. This commitment shines through in his workforce, where the majority of staff are First Nation citizens, and in the leadership he demonstrates every day.With national recognition - including the NACA Indigenous Business Award of Excellence and the Cando Indigenous Economic Developer of the Year Award - Les’s impact extends well beyond the job site. In this interview, Les explores his personal journey of growth, the art of leading with care and adaptability, and what it means to build capacity and resilience in the North.Check out Walker Home Construction
48 min
Siku Rojas is creating value, beauty, and community in real-time
Meet Siku Rojas, the creative force behind Yurak - a painter, printmaker, illustrator, jewellery maker, and learning tattooist based in Iqaluit, NU. From a young age, Siku has used art to explore identity, culture, and belonging. Their work often weaves in tunniit (Inuit tattoos), depictions of Inuit culture, queer relationships, and the lived experiences of being a mixed-race Indigenous youth. Through their practice, Siku offers bold and beautiful visual representations of genderfluid and queer Inuit stories.But Siku’s path is not only about art; it’s about entrepreneurship. As a full-time artist and alum of the Digital Creatives cohort at EntrepreNorth, Siku has built Yurak into both a business and a platform for community connection. Their journey reflects the balancing act of being a working artist while staying true to deeply personal and cultural themes.Follow Siku on InstagramCheck out their website
47 min
Leela Gilday is redefining the 'art of business' through music
Meet our friend and powerhouse artist, Leela Gilday: an award-winning singer-songwriter whose music carries the heart of the North. A proud member of the Dene Nation, Leela weaves stories of land, people, and journey into songs that feel like home to Northerners, and offer a doorway into the North for everyone else.But Leela’s story isn’t just about music; it’s about entrepreneurship. Over more than 20 years, she has built a sustainable career as an independent artist, touring internationally, winning JUNO Awards, and proving that artists can thrive on their own terms. From navigating the business side of the music industry to creating platforms that uplift other Indigenous voices, Leela is redefining what it means to blend art with enterprise.Follow Leela Gilday on Instagram and FacebookCheck out Leela's website
49 min
Allison Kormendy is supporting her community’s health and wellbeing through her business
Meet Allison Kormendy: the owner of Wild Roots grew up in Dawson City, Yukon, a small Northern town of less than 1,500 people. She is Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in from her father’s side and Yupik from her mother’s.One of Wild Roots’ main purposes is to bring First Nations Traditions and values to the forefront of wellbeing. To intertwine modern day sciences with traditional knowledge to create stronger individuals and therefore stronger communities. Through her small batch food and plant medicines, Allison is connecting to her culture and helping her community heal physically and spiritually through her business.Follow Wild Roots 'Holistic Nutrition & Well-Being' on Facebook and InstagramVenture Out's theme song is Fires Across the Tundra by Denendeh's Leela Gilday.
52 min
Angela Code is empowering women to find their strength on the land
Meet Angela Code: a Sayisi Dene | Dënesųłıné hunter, hide tanner, land-based educator, filmmaker, and facilitator from Tadoule Lake - a remote northern community in Manitoba. Angela has lived in the Yukon for many years and this is where she operates her business, Dene Cha'niyé - Indigenous Cultural Contracting. Dene Cha'niyé is Dënesųłıné for “our code of ethics” or “our set of morals” or “our culture, our way of being and knowing.” Angela loves her culture and being out on the land, and through her business she creates opportunities for others - especially women - to find that love too. She offers workshops on ethical hunting and harvesting from a Dene perspective and she also instructs hide tanning, tool making, and the processing of wild meat. Colonization has stifled these practices in many communities, and gender politics impact access to land-based skill development for women. Angela is shifting this narrative in critical ways, and in her words "if women feel empowered with knowledge and skills, they will pass it onto their children and we will have a much more robust economy. Our communities will flourish." In this episode, you will also meet Sayisi Dene | Dënesųłıné land guardian and powerhouse Stephanie Thorassie, who is a relative and dear friend of Angela's and is the Executive Director of the Seal River Watershed Initiative, which has a goal to permanently protect the Seal River Watershed from industrial development as an Indigenous Protected Area (IPA). Follow Dene Cha'niyé on Instagram and Facebook Follow the Seal River Watershed Initiative on FacebookVenture Out's theme song is Fires Across the Tundra by Denendeh's Leela Gilday.
56 min
Gwich'in changemaker Jordan Peterson is sharing the art of negotiating with Northern communities
Meet Jordan Peterson: A disruptor, systems thinker, and entrepreneur from Aklavik, Northwest Territories.Jordan is the CEO of Affinity North: an Indigenous-owned consultancy dedicated to empowering communities and fostering sustainable growth. With a deep understanding of Indigenous culture and values, Affinity North specializes in negotiations, policy, governance, and strategic planning. By prioritizing cultural preservation, environmental stewardship, and economic prosperity, the consultancy develops tailor-made solutions that create lasting positive impacts.As a passionate advocate for Indigenous communities, Jordan has a strong background in leadership and negotiation. He has held significant roles, such as the elected Deputy Grand Chief/Vice President and Chief Negotiator of the Gwich'in Tribal Council, the Strategic Lead for Nation Building at Vuntut Gwitchin Government, and board member of various Indigenous organizations. In these roles, he has focused on advancing self-determination and fostering a new relationship with Canada. In this episode you will also meet beloved Elder Sarah Jerome from Fort McPherson, NWT. Sarah has spent her career leading the way in language and cultural preservation, and she is one of Jordan's greatest mentors. Follow Jordan and Affinity North on LinkedInVisit Affinity North's website
59 min
Jennifer Lindell's hair salon centres the beauty of Inuit values
Meet Jennifer: An award-winning Inuk entrepreneur, hairstylist, and mother from Iqaluit, NU. Jenn is the Owner of Jenn 87 Hairstyling: Iqaluit's only Inuit-owned hair salon that offers clients a truly unique experience and sense of community. Jenn fell in love with hairstyling as a teenager and it's been her career passion ever since. Over the years, she's built a thriving business that models her cultural teachings and the values of respect and generosity that she was raised with.The salon is a space where clients come to feel beautiful and to feel at home. Inuit art and traditional design elements take centre stage, and passers-by are always invited to pop in for a coffee. On occasion, there's even the opportunity to buy smoked fish and handmade jewellery from local sellers. Knowing that access to commercial space is a major barrier, Jenn also ensures that her building (which she proudly owns) is available to host local sewing groups and community workshops. In this episode you will also meet celebrated Inuk broadcaster and communications specialist, Joanna Awa. Joanna has been a devotee of Jenn's from the very beginning, and she deeply appreciates all the trailblazing work that Jenn has done for Inuit entrepreneurship across Nunavut. Follow Jenn87Hair Venture Out's theme song is Fires Across the Tundra by Denendeh's Leela Gilday.
1 hr 3 min
Misty Ireland is carrying the spirit of plants forward
Meet Misty: An Intuitive Entrepreneur who is Dehcho Dene from Tthek'éhsehdélı̨ First Nation (Jean Marie River) in the Northwest Territories.Misty is the Owner of Dene Roots, which promotes the power of Dene Science and offers products for those seeking deeper spiritual connections, balance, and wellbeing. For over 15 years she's been creating smokeless smudge sprays that can be used anywhere and blend traditional medicines like spruce root, juniper berry, and sage.Misty is also a Reiki Master and Life Coach. Last year, she made the bold decision to combine her gifts and jump into entrepreneurship full-time. She hasn't looked back since and wants to encourage more Northerners to take the plunge. For Misty, entrepreneurship is a pathway to inspire community-level change that elevates our economies and our collective sense of wellbeing.In this episode you will also meet Tłı̨chǫ changemaker Benjamin Scott, who is the Founding Project Director of EntrepreNorth. Ben and Misty are thought partners who have offered each other a lot of mutual support over the years, and Ben has been witnessing Misty's growth journey since her participation in EntrepreNorth's inaugural Land Crafted cohort.Follow @denerootsVisit deneroots.caThis episode features Northern Love Affair by Digawolf. Venture Out's theme song is Fires Across the Tundra by Denendeh's Leela Gilday.
1 hr 4 min
Joella Hogan is telling a different story through business
Meet Joella: A Northern Tutchone entrepreneur who connects people to culture and to land. She also happens to be an EntrepreNorth cohort alum and our first guest on S2 of Venture Out!In 2012, Joella stepped into entrepreneurship and purchased an existing soap business in the Yukon. She named it The Yukon Soaps Company and turned it into a community-building, language-learning, earth-connecting hub in her home town of Mayo.For Joella, entrepreneurship is a way to promote language ("if we don't use it, we're going to lose it") and uplift Indigenous young people in meaningful ways. She always starts by asking, 'what does the community need?' and takes it from there. Most recently, this has involved the launch of two new ventures: Raven's Landing and Dan K’ehte Natsedan - Learning Our People’s Way.In this episode you will also meet Northern Tutchone changemaker Eileen Peter, who is Joella's right-hand woman and the Marketing & Social Media Manager at The Yukon Soaps Company.Follow @yukonsoapscompanyVisit yukonsoaps.comThis episode features Brave Face by Diyet & the Love Soldiers. Venture Out's theme song is Fires Across the Tundra by Denendeh's Leela Gilday.
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