Venture Out

Are You Ready for Your Next Chapter? Introducing the EntrepreNorth Growth Program Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day. To mark this special day, we are doing something a little different, this is the first time the Venture Out podcast has featured members of the EntrepreNorth team on the show. Host Xina Cowan (CEO, EntrepreNorth) sits down with Cora Kavyaktok (Program Manager and Founder of Litt...

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...

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 comm...

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....

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 t...

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 indi...

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” o...

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 prio...

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 th...

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 anywh...

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 hu...

Meet Bobbi Rose: a Gwich'in tourism entrepreneur and certified paddling guide who bravely launched her business Dinjii Zhuh Adventures in the Spring of 2021. Bobbi has a deep love for the land and people she comes from and is an active protector of the Peel Watershed. She's passionate about sharing this love with Indigenous communities, youth, and visitors whom she takes on customized padd...

Meet Jamie: a 22 year-old Tłı̨chǫ Photographer who has brought the sensual art of boudoir to the Northwest Territories in a big way. She got her business license at 18 and has since built a highly successful company that helps clients to overcome their fears, step into their courage, and embrace their unique, sexy beauty. Jamie herself has overcome a lot and is proof that young people can do incre...

Meet Rosalind: a former government director who became a full-time artist and entrepreneur in her fifties. She is the Owner of the beloved Down to Earth Gallery, which carries pieces from over 140 artists located across the territories. It's situated in Yellowknife's iconic Old Town and it's a hub for events, annual shows and creative encounters. For Ros, the real magic of her business...

Meet Katie: a bridge builder and visionary who's in the business of creating transformative experiences for people all across the Yukon. She is the Owner of Bella Elite Events and Consulting and the Co-Founder of the Adäka Cultural Festival. Katie is Southern Tutchone from Kluane First Nation, and in her language 'Adäka' means "coming into the light." This message embodies the...

Meet Nooks: an Inuk artist, ulu-maker and entrepreneur who sees the world in full colour from his home in Arviat, NU. He is the Lead Designer and Co-Owner of Hinaani Design: an Inuit apparel brand founded by a collective of creatives from the Kivalliq region of Nunavut. Nooks wears his heart and culture on his sleeve and leans on his love of making to heal and resist. For many years, he struggled...

Meet Leena: a remarkable Inuk business woman who has dedicated her career to language, culture and wellbeing. She is the President and Founder of the Pirurvik Centre: a beautiful school nestled in the heart of Nunavut’s capital, Iqaluit. Pirurvik is a social enterprise that serves Inuit students, and while it is now an internationally renowned place of learning, Leena will tell you that it started...

Meet Tania: a Gwich’in fine jeweller and hide tanner who designs exquisite adornments now worn by customers all over the world and featured in publications like Vogue. Tania is committed to operating her business differently, and she surrounds herself with innovative thinkers who encourage her to push the entrepreneurial envelope. One of her greatest sources of strength is her Mentor, Keri Ataumbi...

Listen to our season 1 trailer and discover some of the remarkable entrepreneurs we're profiling in this series! Venture Out’s guests are born storytellers and creators, and we know you’ll enjoy visiting with them. Featured guests in this trailer include Tania Larsson, Leena Evic, Nooks Lindell, and Kalina Newmark. To listen and learn more, visit www.entreprenorth.ca.