Indigenous Prosperity Foundation

We are proud to share that our Executive Director, Michelle Okere, CFRE was recently featured on CBC/Radio-Canada! In this interview, she discusses her leadership journey and the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation's role in supporting Indigenous businesses across Canada. As a national charity focused on Indigenous economic development, we are honoured to have our leader from Edmonton advance our mission. Watch the interview with Mark Connolly, Host of CBC Morning, to learn more about our initiatives and the positive impact we are making: https://lnkd.in/gA35Nan8 #IndigenousBusiness #EconomicDevelopment #Leadership #IndigenousProsperity #Edmonton #CBCNews NACCA Bobbie Racette Jennifer M Sloan Abdullah Snobar, ICD.D Keith Matthew Sharon Redsky Shannin Metatawabin ICD.D Relay Tangie, CPA, FCCA

We are excited to share that our Executive Director, Michelle Okere, CFRE, has been featured by Global Woman Leader! Check out the full article to learn more about Michelle's incredible journey and our mission to support Indigenous women, youth, and underserved entrepreneurs across Canada.

We are thrilled to share that our Executive Director, Michelle Okere, CFRE, has been featured in a recent article by The Honest Talk celebrating notable job appointments in Canada's business community. This recognition underscores the exciting shift towards greater gender diversity in leadership roles, a cause we are deeply passionate about at the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation. There is nothing we love more than celebrating women’s success, and this moment presents a perfect opportunity to highlight and celebrate Michelle's remarkable career milestone! #Leadership #Diversity #WomenInBusiness #IndigenousProsperity

We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Michelle Okere, CFRE as the inaugural Executive Director of the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation (IPF)! Michelle brings a wealth of experience, dedication, and vision to our foundation. Grounded in her Métis-Cree heritage, she is committed to advancing education and prosperity within Indigenous communities. Her leadership will be instrumental in empowering underserved Indigenous women, youth, and early-stage entrepreneurs across Canada through training, mentorship, technology access, and seed grants. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our Board of Directors—Bobbie Racette, Jennifer M Sloan, Abdullah Snobar, ICD.D, Keith Matthews, and Sharon Redsky—for their unwavering support. We also express deep gratitude to Shannin Metatawabin ICD.D, Relay Tangie, CPA, FCCA, and the NACCA Team and Board for laying a strong foundation for IPF. Special thanks to the Mastercard Foundation and Indigenous Services Canada | Services aux Autochtones Canada for their continued support. This announcement is particularly meaningful as we celebrate #NationalIndigenousPeoplesMonth and recognize the vital contributions of #IndigenousEntrepreneurs. Please join us in welcoming Michelle to this role and connect with us as we unite to advance Indigenous prosperity. Read more about this exciting news here: https://lnkd.in/gZxeFKNc #IPF #IndigenousProsperity #NIHM2024 #IndigenousLeadership #InclusiveGrowth

Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day! 🪶 Today, we honour the vibrant cultures, rich heritage, and incredible contributions of Indigenous Peoples across Canada. As we celebrate, stay tuned for an exciting announcement coming on Monday, June 24, 2024, that will mark a historic milestone for the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation! #NationalIndigenousPeoplesDay #IndigenousEntrepreneurs #IPF #IndigenousProsperity #NIHM2024 #NIPD2024

We're thrilled to announce the launch of our #WalkTogether initiative—a dedicated effort to listen and learn how IPF can best support Indigenous women, youth and early-stage entrepreneurs. From February 15th to March 31st, 2024, we're embarking on a journey to discover pathways to Indigenous prosperity alongside Indigenous Financial Institutions (IFIs), economic development organizations, and underserved Indigenous entrepreneurs. The findings and stories will be shared at the NACCA Indigenous Prosperity Forum this Spring. Our first stop visiting Kitigan Zibi First Nation was a transformative visit hosted by Pow Wow Pitch founder Sunshine Tenasco in collaboration with Kitigan Zibi entrepreneurs. Key insights and actionable recommendations emerged: 1️⃣ Community and Entrepreneurial Spaces: The need for accessible, multifunctional spaces catering to both business and community needs emerged as a critical insight. Entrepreneurs advocated for multipurpose community centers and fostering partnerships for space utilization. 2️⃣ Overcoming Seasonal Economic Challenges: Addressing the seasonal nature of the local economy is vital. Recommendations include developing year-round entrepreneurship programs for youth, promoting cultural shifts to celebrate entrepreneurial success, and fostering community support networks. 3️⃣ Transformative Funding Models: Access to capital remains a significant barrier for Kitigan Zibi entrepreneurs. Innovative funding models such as microgrants and community-led investment funds are proposed to provide seed funding and support community-led investments. 4️⃣ Bridging the Digital Divide: Limited access to technology hinders digital engagement and access to larger markets. Collaboration to improve Internet infrastructure and offering digital literacy workshops are recommended to equip entrepreneurs with the necessary skills. 5️⃣ Tourism Entrepreneurship: Leveraging tourism presents opportunities for economic development. Recommendations include investing in tourism infrastructure and supporting capacity-building and marketing efforts to support entrepreneurs in building this industry for future prosperity in Kitigan Zibi. These insights are instrumental in shaping IPF's approach. Learn more about what we heard from Indigenous entrepreneurs in Kitigan Zibi: https://lnkd.in/gtp2Uvyn #IndigenousProsperity #Empowerment #Entrepreneurship #RiseUpKZ

The Indigenous Prosperity Foundation (IPF), an independent charitable organization established by NACCA and Indigenous Financial Institutions across Canada, is seeking an exceptional candidate to fill the role of inaugural Executive Director! At IPF, our mission centres on fostering success and empowerment among underserved Indigenous women, youth, and early-stage entrepreneurs across Canada. We will achieve this by providing comprehensive support, including training, mentorship, digital access, and seed grants. Our aim is to ensure accessibility and equity while building capacity within the Indigenous economic development ecosystem. We are searching for an individual with proven executive-level experience, a track record of impactful leadership, and a deep commitment to our mission. If you are, or you know, someone who embodies these qualities and is ready to make a significant difference, we encourage you to reach out or share this opportunity. For more information about this opportunity and to learn more about IPF, please visit: https://lnkd.in/gMGEw3vQ #IndigenousProsperity #ExecutiveDirector #Empowerment #IndigenousEntrepreneurs #MakeADifference Bobbie Racette Jennifer M Sloan Sharon Redsky Keith Matthew Shannin Metatawabin ICD.D Abdullah Snobar, ICD.D, NACCA

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Jennifer M Sloan, Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Stakeholder Engagement at Mastercard Canada, to the esteemed Board of Directors of the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation (IPF). With a distinguished career spanning public service, diplomacy, and private sector leadership, Jennifer brings a wealth of expertise in governance, government relations, media, and stakeholder management. Her diverse background and extensive board service underscore her commitment to driving positive change and empowerment for underserved communities. Jennifer's advocacy for social impact is evident through her leadership in spearheading the development of Mastercard Changeworks™, an initiative focused on harnessing technology and data to create positive change, particularly in supporting Indigenous and Immigrant entrepreneurs in Canada. As a steward of governance and advocate for social progress, Jennifer views the IPF as an essential institution poised to shape the trajectory of Indigenous entrepreneurship, economic empowerment, and cultural revitalization. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g8zma359 #IndigenousProsperity #BoardAppointment #SocialImpactLeadership NACCA Bobbie Racette Shannin Metatawabin ICD.D Sharon Redsky Keith Matthew Abdullah Snobar, ICD.D

IPF proudly announces Keith Matthew's appointment to the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation's Board. As the former Chief of Simpcw First Nation, Keith brings extensive experience in economic development and community leadership. His track record of negotiating impactful partnerships and advancing Indigenous entrepreneurship will be instrumental in our mission. Keith's passion for empowering Indigenous communities aligns perfectly with IPF's goals. Learn more about Keith's appointment here: https://lnkd.in/gu8Yt8wA Welcome, Keith! Let's pave the way for a brighter future together!  #IndigenousProsperity #BoardAppointment #EconomicEmpowerment NACCA Bobbie Racette Jennifer M Sloan Abdullah Snobar, ICD.D Sharon Redsky Shannin Metatawabin ICD.D

The Indigenous Prosperity Foundation (IPF) proudly welcomes Sharon Redsky to our esteemed Board of Directors. As Principal of Redsky Fundraising and a Canadian Association of Gift Planners (CAGP) member, Sharon brings extensive expertise in fundraising, proposal development, and partnership building. Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and a Shoal Lake 40 First Nation member, Sharon's distinguished career includes accolades such as the YMCA-YWCA Women of Distinction Community Champion Award in 2017. Her commitment to excellence is further underscored by her educational achievements, including a Master's Certificate in Project Management and a Certificate in Indigenous Evaluation from the University of Winnipeg. With Sharon's expertise, IPF gains a strategic thinker dedicated to creating opportunities for Indigenous prosperity. We're excited to have her on board. Learn more about Sharon's appointment here: https://lnkd.in/dBf-7QTa #IndigenousProsperity NACCA Bobbie Racette Shannin Metatawabin ICD.D Jennifer M Sloan Abdullah Snobar, ICD.D Keith Matthew