Official Launch
A Break in the Ice
EntrepreNorth’s Independence signals an undercurrent of systems change designed to uplift Northern Indigenous Innovation
As winter loosens its grip across Northern Canada and the land begins its seasonal return to movement and light, a parallel shift is unfolding in the region’s economy.
EntrepreNorth, an Indigenous-led entrepreneurship initiative that has supported Northern founders since 2018, has formally transitioned into an independent charitable entity, marking both an organizational milestone and a broader signal of social innovation and systems change in the North.
This transition comes at a time when Indigenous communities are asserting greater control over how development unfolds on their lands, seeking models that prioritize long-term wellbeing and economies that are regenerative and diverse.
“Spring in the North is a time of renewal and of preparing for what comes next,” says Xina Cowan, newly appointed CEO & Co-Founder of EntrepreNorth. “This transition reflects that same energy and intention. It’s about stepping forward in a way that is grounded and aligned with the communities we serve. Independence allows us to implement our own governance structure and expand access to the kinds of capital, knowledge, and networks that entrepreneurs need not just to start businesses, but to sustain them for the long term.”
Founded eight years ago on the MakeWay Shared Platform, EntrepreNorth was created to address a persistent gap: access to business education, mentorship, and capital that reflect the realities of Northern Indigenous entrepreneurs.Since then, the organization has worked with 400+ entrepreneurs through programming, training and events; many of whom are building ventures rooted in land-based knowledge, cultural pride and identity, and local economic resilience.
While the North is often framed through the lens of resource development, Indigenous economies have long been its foundation; now resurging through entrepreneurs who are redefining value and success on their own terms.
Yet structural barriers remain. High operating costs, lack of infrastructure, limited access to financing, geographic isolation, and the enduring impacts of colonization continue to shape the business landscape.
To more directly address these barriers, EntrepreNorth is building a culture of innovation rooted in Indigenous knowledge and Northern capacity. Independence allows the organization to expand access to relational capital and secure long-term funding on its own terms; empowering entrepreneurs to build economies that prioritize sustainable growth and economic wellbeing.
A key component of this work is the Sinew Impact Fund, through which the organization is advancing a model of finance that centres deep relationships and community outcomes.
"The fund started as an initiative to close the gap in access to capital for Northern Indigenous entrepreneurs," says Kristin Richard, Managing Director of the Sinew Impact Fund and Co-Founder. "But as we consulted community, we learned that access was not the only issue; how capital flows and provides support is the foundational challenge we are working to change."
“EntrepreNorth was always about more than entrepreneurship,” says Co-Founder Benjamin Scott, who led the launch and growth of EntrepreNorth on MakeWay’s Shared Platform and is now stepping into a supportive strategic advisory role. “It was about creating the conditions for Indigenous economic self-determination from within, where people can build in ways that reflect who they are and where they come from.”
For entrepreneurs who have come through the program, the shift represents something deeper than institutional growth. “EntrepreNorth helped me see that my business is connected to my identity and my responsibility to the land,” says Bobbi Rose Koe, a Growth Program alumni and founder of Dinjii Zhuh Adventures. “That changes how you think about success.”
The organization’s newly formed board brings together Northern and Indigenous leaders and allies with experience across business, philanthropy, community development, and finance – an intentional move to ensure decisions remain grounded in regional realities.
“I am here because EntrepreNorth lifted me up and supported my journey,” says Sandy Kownak, Board Member and program alumni. “Now, I have the responsibility to ensure it works for many more. EntrepreNorth proves that when Indigenous entrepreneurs are trusted and empowered, entire communities benefit.”
While independence now allows EntrepreNorth to scale its work with greater autonomy, this growth and evolution would not have been possible without the deep-rooted belief in its mission from its partners. The organization’s journey has been championed by MakeWay Foundation, The Mastercard Foundation, CanNor, Definity Foundation, McConnell Foundation, Peter Gilgan Foundation, Canadian Women’s Foundation, Dragonfly Ventures, and the Future Skills Centre, whose support has been vital in building a foundation for Northern-led success.
In the North, spring does not arrive all at once. It comes gradually through longer days, shifting ice, and the steady return of life to the land. EntrepreNorth’s transition reflects a similar process: not a sudden change, but the continuation of a longer movement toward Indigenous-led economic futures.
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Jamie Wetrade-Stevenson
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