Supporting Indigenous Entrepreneurs at Futurpreneur Canada

At Futurpreneur we believe in building trust to best support Indigenous Young Entrepreneurs. We help Indigenous entrepreneurs aged 18-39 launch or buy their own business. With up to $60,000* in financing, an expert mentor for up to two years, and access to resources, we’re here to help young entrepreneurs bring their business plan to life.

We’re pleased to introduce you to the Indigenous young entrepreneur support team at Futurpreneur:

Jason McDonald

Jason McDonald is a lifelong resident and member of Akwesasne. Akwesasne territory includes Snye and St Regis Quebec, Cornwall Island Ontario and Hogansburg New York.

Jason has many years of experience working with people in transition to employment or self-employment. Jason’s work experience includes sales, and he credits this experience with granting him the ability to communicate with people from all walks of life.

Jason stresses the importance of proper communication to all future Indigenous Young Entrepreneurs. His advice: “You are starting a business. To make the business successful, you have to sell it. To sell it you have to properly communicate that to your target audience. Can you do that?”

Jason looks forward to working with his colleagues on Futurpreneur’s Indigenous team to help Indigenous young entrepreneurs realize their dream.

Noah Wilson

Noah Wilson self-identifies as a Cree man with French/Ukrainian heritage on his mother’s side of the family. Noah is a proud community member of Peguis First Nation which is the largest Treaty 1(1871) community located in the province of Manitoba. As a result of living in several cities and communities throughout his youth, Noah was able to see a diverse cross-section of Canadian society that highlighted the stark discrepancies in the standard of living between First Nations peoples and the rest of Canada. These experiences fostered his passion to someday become a trusted advisor for the resurgence of self-determining Indigenous Economies, thriving Indigenous Communities, and a hopeful Indigenous Peoples.

Noah recently graduated with distinction from the University of Manitoba in 2019 with a Advanced-Bachelor’s degree in Indigenous Governance and a Minor in Management which only continued to grow his passion for Indigenous business, Indigenous economics, and Indigenous self-governance. During his studies, Noah was awarded the University of Manitoba Indigenous Award of Excellence for Outstanding Achievement for his work as co-president of the Indigenous Students’ Association. The award also recognized his work co-founding the “ReconciliACTION Campaign” which has become a nationally recognized campaign with the Canadian Federation of Students and advocates for the implementation the TRC Call to Action #16 at all post-secondary institutions across Canada. In 2019, he was honoured to be selected as a Rhodes Scholar Finalist as a representative of the University of Manitoba. Noah is a devoted advocate for the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action in Canada and the establishment of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

As a new member of the Indigenous Young Entrepreneurs team at Futurpreneur, Noah brings with him a professional background in finance working with both personal and business clientele at the Royal Bank of Canada for the past 4 years. Noah hopes to use his educational and professional background to help support the many Indigenous Young Entrepreneurs across Manitoba and Saskatchewan who are just waiting for an opportunity to bring their great business proposals to life for the resurgence of self-determining Indigenous Economies.

Holly Atjecoutay

Holly is the Director of the Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Program at Futurpreneur. Holly is Cree and Saulteaux from Cowessess First Nation in Treaty 4 territory in Saskatchewan and is proud and honoured to call Mohkinstsis (Calgary) in Treaty 7 territory her home. Holly holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English with a minor in Indigenous Studies. Her background is in Oil and Gas, Non-profit, Legal, and Community Economic Development, and she has always worked within and alongside rural and urban Indigenous Communities.

Holly relies heavily on the amazing Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Program Team to provide invaluable support, resources, and programming to Indigenous Young Entrepreneurs nationwide with the startup of their businesses. Holly guides the team to success, maintains important relationships and collaboration with partners, and ensures that every First Nations, Métis, Inuit, and Indigenous community in Canada is aware of the services that are offered at Futurpreneur.

Holly’s main passion and driving force is challenging and breaking stereotypes of First Nations peoples in mainstream society, encouraging education of First Nations youth, and involvement in Indigenous economic development.

Elissa Parker

Elissa Parker is a Client Relationship Manager for the Indigenous team at Futurpreneur. With a diverse background in Finance, Sales, Management and Youth-Care work, her passion and focus has always been to help others reach their highest potential on a personal and professional level. Although she was born and raised in Saskatoon, SK, Elissa is a member of the Piapot First Nation on Treaty 4 Territory. She’s on a continuing journey of learning more about her Cree ancestry and their traditions. Elissa is intuitively driven with strong values and takes pride in her most rewarding role as a mother to her 12-year-old son. She believes everyone has a story to share, and every amazing business idea starts with a deeper-rooted message. She enjoys working with our Young Entrepreneurs and learning about their heart-driven motive behind each successful business idea. You will find Elissa behind the scenes supporting the rest of the amazing Indigenous team through the application process for Futurpreneur’s Financing Programs. Elissa’s focus on growth has always been supported by a serving attitude, and student’s mindset.

If you are looking to start a business, we are here to help.

Visit futurpreneur.ca/indigenous/ to get started!