A new centre in Winnipeg has opened to help push Indigenous entrepreneurs to be the future leaders of the economy. The Wiitahnookiinitaw Tahshkayzing Entrepreneurship Centre (WTEC) had its grand opening Wednesday. It is the first “Indigenous-led entrepreneurship centre” in Canada and is focused on Indigenous economic development. “It’s about the connection to our history,” said Kathleen BlueSky, the CEO of WTEC. “We were always entrepreneurs. We were always players in our economies, and trade played a huge part in that. So the mindset was always there, and it was just different systems that were imposed that changed the mindset at the community level and has really impacted our young people.” BlueSky said the centre will provide mentorship to Indigenous entrepreneurs and connect them to the right resources based on their vision, all in a culturally appropriate environment. WTEC currently has two partnerships with post-secondary institutions, which will allow participants to get proper training and certification, and then the centre can help with advancing business ideas and scaling up businesses where needed. “First Nations provide the greatest human capital in Canada, and we know that young people and small and medium businesses are the future of our economy,” said BlueSky. “We really have to start making those investments with our young people, especially, but with all people, and start really building up our small and medium businesses again.” People wanting to get involved with the centre can connect online, call, or email WTEC. While the centre is starting with a focus in Manitoba, BlueSky said the plan is to eventually be available throughout Canada. She expects the centre to help 20 to 30 people within the first year and then expand to up to 200 entrepreneurs in the next few years. “That’s our biggest hope. What we’ve talked about is that we’re building business leaders who will build business leaders.”
