Workshops in Churchill aim to empower Indigenous entrepreneurs

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Community Futures North Central Development (CFNCD) is bringing a three-day series of workshops to Churchill later this month, offering Indigenous women and youth practical tools, funding opportunities, and cultural support to start or grow their businesses. The sessions, running Sept. 25–27, are funded in partnership with the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association (NACCA) and the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation, highlighting both long-running and newly launched programs aimed at helping northern Manitobans turn their business ideas into reality.

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The series begins the evening of September 25 with the Indigenous Women’s Entrepreneur (IWE) Workshop, focusing on building financial capability, developing a healthy money mindset, setting business goals, and learning the basics of financial statements and bookkeeping. Supper will be provided for participants. “This is now our fourth year delivering the IWE program, and we’ve just received funding to continue for another four years,” explained Michelle Pruder, Business Support Officer with CFNCD. “Often it’s the money side of operating a business that trips people up, so we start with the basics and then provide online workshops and follow-up support.”

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On Sept. 26, a free Lunch & Learn will showcase the full range of CFNCD programs available across northern Manitoba, including self-employment training, microloans, and grants such as the Growing Communities fund, which provides $2,500 for community projects. Through the IWE and Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship (IYE) programs, entrepreneurs can also apply for microloans of up to $25,000, nearly half of which may be forgivable. “What makes our programs different is that we don’t just hand people a form and send them on their way,” said Pruder. “We sit with them, help with their business plans, and walk them through the process. We’re really hands-on.”

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The workshops conclude Sept. 27 with the Indigenous Youth Entrepreneur (IYE) Workshop, open to participants ages 18–39. The session blends cultural identity and community values with modern business skills, including time with Money Smarts: My Financial Journey, an interactive board game developed by the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation to teach financial literacy and real-world money decision-making. Pruder said the youth programming reflects an understanding that entrepreneurship in Indigenous communities is about more than profit. “Sometimes people feel guilty about charging for their products or services because they want to give back to their community,” she said. “We help them see how they can integrate their culture and values into their business, it doesn’t have to be separate.”

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For Pruder, who is Métis and has lived in northern Manitoba for nearly 40 years, the work is deeply personal. “I love the people of northern Manitoba,” she said. “The success stories, whether it’s a thriving audiology business or someone who just needed $1,500 to buy a sewing machine for ribbon skirts, those keep me going. When one person succeeds, the whole community does.”

Following the Churchill visit, CFNCD will bring similar programming to Norway House during its Reclaiming Our Future Youth Conference and later to The Pas. Pruder emphasized that starting a business doesn’t always mean building a corporation from the ground up. “It can be a small side gig, something out of your kitchen or your home. It’s about finding a way to be your own boss, supplement your income, and contribute to your community.”

More information about the Indigenous Women’s and Youth Entrepreneurship programs, as well as upcoming events, is available through the Community Futures North Central Development website.

— Steven Sukkau is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Winnipeg Sun. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.

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