Honouring the land and the Knowledge Keepers
Empowered Nations as an organization exists in a virtual space but our team members work, learn and thrive in their home territories or as guests in diverse lands: the ancestral and unceded territories of the Líl’wat and St’át’imc Nations, the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam Nations, as well as the territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy, Tsuu’tina, Nakoda and Métis Nations. We also acknowledge the beautiful, ancestral and unceded territories of our First Nations, Métis and Inuit participants, mentors and partners and recognize and honour the inherent and treaty rights of all Indigenous peoples and lands.
We would like to raise our hands to the Indigenous knowledge keepers alongside whom our curriculum was co-created, as well as the invaluable contributions of Indigenous and non-Indigenous leaders for their thoughts, wisdom and skills. We have such gratitude for these leaders, entrepreneurs and educators from the First Nations Technology Council and the Knowledge Keepers from St’át’imc, Ktunaxa and Métis Nations. Their shared vision helped ground this learning journey in spaces for reflection and growth, values central to Indigenous sovereignty and economy and practices to support wellness and sustainability.
Our Story and our Roots
Empowered Nations has been offering support and training to Indigenous entrepreneurs since 2019. The first cohorts were held in-person, in community, in Líl’wat and N’Quatqua territories. We’ve grown since then and moved to virtual delivery which has allowed Empowered Nations to develop strong partnerships with a variety of organizations and communities across Turtle Island.
We also now have our first full circle entrepreneur in Tanina Williams. Tanina participated in the inaugural Empowered Nations cohort in 2019 to build her business, Amawílc, as a culture and education consultant. She now works as part of the Empowered Nations team as a Knowledge Keeper and mentor to new entrepreneurs.
The relationship between Empowered Startups and Empowered Nations stems from a connection to the land and relationships within community. ES’ original team reside as guests on the traditional and unceded territories of Coast Salish Nations and personal connections were the spark for the first Empowered Nations cohorts in St’át’imc territories. Empowered Startups maintains its focus internationally, with offices in Canada, France, Portugal and the United States. A globally recognized and internationally designated Startup Incubator, Empowered Startups has mentored, accelerated, and incubated a notable portfolio of international and domestic business ideas across global locations. Empowered Nations leverages the strength of the award-winning Empowered Startups digital platform to offer community focused and cohort-based learning journeys, centered on Indigenous values, world views and ways of being.
Meet The Empowered Nations Team
Meet the people at the heart of Empowered Nations. We work closely and collaboratively to create a positive, energetic team environment that allows us to provide excellent training opportunities. Our diversity of backgrounds and experience help us build meaningful, productive and supportive relationships with learners and partners alike. We truly enjoy the work we do together every day and look forward to working with you!
Our Core Values
We take a holistic approach that engages the head, heart, hands and spirit.
Accessibility
Training happens within learners' communities, homes and daily lives thanks to our online learning platform and strategies.
Path to Success
Step-by step training and tools de-risk and de-mystify creating a new business or technology, amplifying Indigenous economies.
Hands-On Learning
We offer a learning experience through a doing approach, focusing on the real, concrete tasks of getting businesses started.
Collaboration
We build long-term relationships with learners and work in close partnership with organizations and communities.
Our Partners
We proudly collaborate with
