Mother Earth Essentials was founded by Carrie Armstrong who comes from a long line of Cree Medicine Women. She started to form the idea for a bath & beauty line business during her first teaching job at Amiskwaciy Academy, where she used traditional plants to connect the students to their history. Prior to teaching, she worked in the beauty and retail industry as an esthetician and a cosmetic sales rep. These combined experiences helped her down the path to launch her collection of natural products through Mother Earth Essentials.

As a permanent Chief of Samson Cree Nation, Victor Buffalo has dedicated the last 10 years of his life to promoting international trade with China by establishing personal relationships, signing MOUs, and laying down the ground work to open new doors for his people.

Shelley has participated in the 26 year long battle to have the Kelly Lake Cree Nation officially recognized as a First Nation. She shared her vast knowledge of her People’s history with passion and pride.

Recently appointed Grand Chief of the Confederacy of Treaty 6, Chief of Montana First Nation, Chief Leonard Standingontheroad attended to discuss their hydroponic greenhouse operation as well as thank Keating Business Strategies Ltd. for helping the nation get one stop closer to their ultimate goals of food sovereignty and expanding their own brand.

As the Executive Director of Cando and being of First Nations descent from the Erminsekin Cree Nation, Ray Wanuch has partnered with Keating Business Strategies Ltd. to bring these workshops to fruition. Ray discussed the Community Economic Development Initiative (CEDI) along with the Economic Developer Training that Cando offers.

Shaun Soonias, the Director of Indigenous Relations with Farm Credit Canada is a member of the Red Pheasant Cree Nation in Saskatchewan. He presented the different programs that FCC offers such as; The Young Farmer Loan, Young Entrepreneur Loan, and Women Entrepreneur programs, to name a few.

A proud member of the Dokis First Nation raised near North Bay, Ontario, Carole is the Senior Engagement Manager at the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation. Her presentation focused on AIOC’s priorities of Loan Guarantees, Capacity Building, and Engagement.

The Executive Director of the Food and Bio Processing Branch at Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation presented on the new Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership that runs from April 2023 to March 2028. Ken also discussed the new Economic Development in Rural Alberta Plan (EDRAP) that supports rural growth and economic progress by integrating rural perspectives into new and existing Government of Alberta policies, strategies and programs.

Having a passion for Agribusiness and Indigenous work, Tim Keating jumped at the opportunity by partnering with Cando to share his knowledge and extend his abilities to all of the Indigenous Communities across Alberta.

Bianca Fera is an environmental scientist with over ten years of experience in the Environmental sector. Her recent work has focused on regulatory approvals and Indigenous engagement.

A partnership between Advisian and the Cold Lake First Nations in Alberta, Canada, which supports the Alberta Beef Producers (ABP) with Indigenous Engagement for their Alberta AgriSystems Living Lab (AALL) project. The goal of AALL is to measure the impacts of agricultural beneficial management practices on optimizing carbon storage in production systems and reducing emissions by using methods such as cropping systems, crop rotations, land use changes, nutrient/fertiliser management, and livestock grazing.

The Aboriginal Business Investment Fund (ABIF) can partially or completely fund capital costs for Indigenous community-owned economic development projects. Projects that have been funded, including agribusiness projects, have contributed to positive social and economic outcomes for Indigenous Peoples and their communities. Budget 2023-24 allocates $7.5 million for the ABIF program.

We were fortunate to have Elder George Isadore and his son, Laurent Isadore, bless us with an opening prayer and drum song at our Peace River workshop