Once a year, Casino Rama becomes a hub for connection, collaboration and change, as dozens of Indigenous communities, business leaders and decision-makers gather for the annual Forward Summit. The two-day event aims to provide networking opportunities and spark business ideas for the next generation of Indigenous youth. Geena Jackson, founder and executive producer of Bears’ Lair and president of Indigenous Initiatives Inc., said the summit helps bridge the communication gap. “So that we can learn from each other, progress and really create economies within our own communities and with each other,” she said. Day one of the summit puts youth in the spotlight, with a focus on supporting new Indigenous entrepreneurs. “50 per cent of the Indigenous population of Canada is under the age of 25, and that’s a huge population of people,” Jackson said. “So how do we create the leaders of tomorrow? How do we hear the voices of the youth that are so progressive?” The answer? The Forward Summit, connecting youth with people who have walked the path before them and showing the next generation that their own dreams are within reach. Shayla Oulette Stonechild is also an entrepreneur and the founder of the Matriarch Movement, a nonprofit, digital platform and podcast dedicated to amplifying Indigenous women. She hopes that the young people who attended the summit walk away with the confidence to achieve their dreams regardless of what community they come from. “Just because we may have had trauma impacted onto us as Indigenous people doesn’t mean that that’s our whole story,” Stonechild said. “We can take back our power and rewrite a new narrative, the one where we are confident and powered.” Opening the Forward Summit and panel discussion was local Chippewa of Rama First Nation Elder Stephanie Sandy. She said that it’s important for people to understand and realize their potential from a young age. “We were gifted with a lot of knowledge, and we’ve been sharing it all these years, but now we have an opportunity to walk beside and do our own business,” said Sandy. At the same time, she added that it’s valuable for business leaders to see the new skills and expertise the community can bring to the workforce. “We need to have that good connection with our business-minded people and also have our Indigenous ways and operate into it so that we can prove that we are a strong nation and we have a lot to offer. Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations and Economic Reconciliation Greg Rickford was the keynote speaker. He added that industries like critical minerals and forestry need to be Indigenous-led. “Those partnerships aren’t just the right thing to do and the right way to do it; they represent an opportunity for more First Nations youth and young people to develop entrepreneurial ideas to get a red seal certificate,” he said. The second day of the Forward Summit will take place at Casino Rama on Thursday.
