Conference Reflections & Gallery

Written By Jamie Wetrade-Stevenson
 

When people gather with shared purpose in the North, something shifts in the air.

At the 2026 Empowering Innovation Spirit (EIS) Conference at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre in Whitehorse, Yukon, that shift was palpable. Over three transformative days, Indigenous entrepreneurs, cultural Knowledge Holders, artisans, youth, community leaders, Elders, and partners from across the Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Circumpolar North came together under one roof.

We gathered not simply to talk about business, but to celebrate what business looks like when it is rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing, community wellbeing, and deep respect for the land.

 

Official 2026 Empowering Innovation Spirit Conference Film

Watch the moments, energy, and voices that shaped the 2026 EIS Conference in Whitehorse, captured by Matt Jacques and Andrew Serack.

 

What Does Wealth Mean to You?

In colonial business systems, wealth is often reduced to commodity, profit margins, and individual accumulation. But across the North, Indigenous entrepreneurs are defining wealth on their own terms.

As shared in the conference film, wealth is not measured by numbers alone:

  • "Wealth is my friends and family. My wealth is a healthy household, a healthy community, a healthy region."

  • "Wellbeing is wealth. Wealth is food security."

  • "Wealth is what I can share from my heart, and what I can provide back to the community."

  • "How we measure success is the amount of people who have been able to partake in traditional handcrafts, rather than just the money made selling them."

Success in our communities looks like creating ripples: rings on the water that uplift an artist, mentor a 14-year-old taking leadership in an outfitting shop, or help someone reconnect with their cultural heritage. When we look ahead twenty years, our collective dream is simple: seeing the next generation step forward with the pathways, mentorship, and support they need to thrive.

 
 

"This Is Your People": In the Words of Attendees

What makes EIS special is not just the programming, but what happens in the circle: the quiet moments of validation, the release of self-doubt, and the realization that none of us are walking this path alone.

Following the conference, attendees and entrepreneurs shared what the space meant to them:

A Room Full of Kinship

"I didn't really know what to expect! Like I read about it, and prepared, but the people I met and the stories they told... it was so inspiring! The rituals, the elders, the young ones who still kept the traditions alive and found a way to make it a living. I recognize so much of myself in them, that it felt like I was in a room with my cousins! 5 minutes before [my panel], I told the beautiful woman next to me that I was getting nervous. Tia said: 'Look around, you're surrounded with so much support and love. This is your people.'"
— Paarma Rosvig Pedersen

Realizing You Are Not Alone

"I walked into this conference thinking I was going to learn more about business, but I walked out feeling inspired, more confident in where I'm going, and realizing that growing a successful business doesn't mean you suddenly have everything figured out. Probably the biggest thing I'm taking away from this experience is realizing that I'm NOT alone. I'm usually the person catering conferences and events, cooking in the kitchen while everyone else is sitting in the room learning. But now I understand just how valuable opportunities like this really are, and how important it is to invest that same time and energy into myself as an entrepreneur too."
— Janine Marion, Owner and Chef, Janinez Mean Cuizine

Stepping Into Purpose

"I am beyond inspired. I am moved. I had the privilege of attending an EntrepreNorth gathering here in Whitehorse this week. My oh my am I floored with how much power was shared and held us up. To doubt oneself is an act of collective oppression and I'm done being a part of that movement. Thanks to the amazing people I've met and energies shared, I now know what next to do and have the confidence and motivation to do it."
— Miranda Amos, Artist

 

"Relationships and People Are What We Live For"

Setting the tone for the entire gathering, EntrepreNorth CEO Xina Cowan reflected on what it meant to witness this room in motion.

"I didn't take a single photo this week. I was just mesmerized by how many gorgeous and wonderful people were gathered in one space. No question about it: there is a powerful, growing movement of Indigenous entrepreneurs across the North and Circumpolar who are leading transformation that's deeply rooted in wellbeing for communities. They are doing the work, and they know what's needed. Relationships and people are what I live for. The EntrepreNorth team, board, co-founders, partners, and network of entrepreneurs, artists and Elders are the biggest gift. They are the most special. Thank you to all the hearts and minds who gathered at the EIS conference this week. You were meant to be a part of it."

Xina's words capture the core truth of this gathering. True economic resilience in the North is not built through transactional exchanges. It is nurtured through long-term relationships, mutual care, and the shared conviction that our economies must serve our communities and future generations first.

 
 

Good Medicine at the Table: Showcasing Indigenous Flavors

Food is culture, memory, and medicine. At the Gala dinner, that connection took center stage through an extraordinary culinary collaboration led by Nihkhah and an all-star team of Indigenous chefs.

Reflecting on the evening, Steph Baryluk of Nihkhah shared:

"The 2026 Empowering Innovation Spirit Conference brought together so many incredible people and I knew the food had to have meaning. Nihkhah was built to showcase Indigenous Foods, Indigenous Producers and Indigenous Culture. Together with the Nihkhah team and support from Takhini River Ranch, we were able to work alongside Grandma Treesaw's bannock and put out more than 8 stations. Good medicine when we are given the space to showcase our Indigenous Flavors and gather with our Indigenous Peoples. Mahsi Choo to all our supporters from Territory to Territory."

The Gala was a feast in every sense, honoring producers, harvesters, and traditional culinary knowledge while bringing everyone together in celebration and gratitude.

 
 

Carrying the Momentum Forward

The conference may be over, but the conversations, partnerships, and collective energy carry forward. We leave this gathering with full hearts, reminded that Indigenous entrepreneurs are not waiting for permission to shape the future. They are already leading the way with innovation grounded in cultural integrity, environmental stewardship, and community care.

With Deep Gratitude to Our Community and Partners

A gathering of this scale is only possible because of the immense care, labor, and generosity of many hands:

Mahsi Cho, Quyana, Quana, and thank you to every person who traveled, shared, listened, and contributed their spirit to EIS 2026.

Here is to continuing to build spaces where Northern Indigenous entrepreneurs are celebrated, connected, and supported to thrive.

Jamie Wetrade-Stevenson