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Skownan First Nation business business based in Thunder Bay Ontario wins $1,000 and advances to the Pow Wow Pitch Grand Finale
On September 18th, Pow Wow Pitch, an Indigenous-led non-profit organization that hosts a Turtle Island wide Indigenous Business Pitch Competition for Indigenous entrepreneurs, presented in partnership with RBC, Shopify and Mastercard Canada, announced Esther Maud, the Skownan First Nation Founder of Wabshkaa Animkii Benesii, a business based in Thunder Bay, Ontario as the 2024 Pow Wow Pitch People’s Choice Semi-Final Winner. Esther has won $1,000 and is advancing to the Grand Finale for a chance to win $25,000 to grow her business.
More than 300 Indigenous entrepreneurs from across Turtle Island (Canada and the United States) applied to Pow Wow Pitch this year for their chance to win cash prizes and advance to the Pow Wow Pitch Grand Finale. From the 300 applicants, 100 were selected as Semi-Finalists and provided with training and mentorship to prepare for their semi-final pitch to the Judges.
As part of the competition, Pow Wow Pitch invited the public to vote for their favourite entrepreneur to win the People’s Choice Prize as part of a campaign to showcase, celebrate, and rally around the Semi-Finalists. This year, more than 10,000 people from across Turtle Island casted their votes for the entrepreneur that they wanted to see make it to the Grand Finale.
Esther has won $1,000 and is advancing to the Finals after receiving over 800 of the 10,000 votes as part of the Pow Wow Pitch People’s Choice Voting.
“It means the absolute world to me to have such a beautiful, strong community that supports me one hundred percent and is constantly rooting for us to keep on going,” shared Esther Maudd, Founder of Wabshkaa Animkii Benesii. “I am grateful for our people!”
Wabshkaa Animkii Benesii is an after-school program with a strong emphasis on land-based teachings, culture, and Indigenous traditions. Esther and her team of five are filling a critical gap in Thunder Bay for public schools to incorporate authentic, hands-on learning of local Indigenous cultures. Wabshkaa Animkii Benesii’s main goal is not only to teach about cultural knowledge, but to provide a safe and inclusive space for children to explore their own interests and to find what makes them happy.
Esther pitched to win funds to hire a business development manager to establish a strong foundation for Wabshkaa Animkii Benesii to be sustainable as a not-for-profit and to secure a permanent programming space for their team.
“A lesson I learnt through my Pow Wow Pitch experience, is how to be more patient with myself and trust in our Creator that everything always works out in the end,” reflected Esther. “My advice to other Indigenous entrepreneurs is to stay resilient. The journey of entrepreneurship can be challenging. Embrace setbacks as learning experiences and keep moving forward with determination and passion.”
“Congratulations Esther on winning the People’s Choice Prize and advancing to the 2024 Pow Wow Pitch Grand Finale,” said Naomi Sarazin, Executive Director of Pow Wow Pitch. “It was incredible to watch the People’s Choice votes continue to climb for Esther over the last two months. The overwhelming support she received shows how deeply connected she is to her community and how passionate people are about Wabshkaa Animkii Benesii. Esther’s dedication and perseverance are truly inspiring, and we can’t wait to see her shine in the Grand Finale. Way to be a champion for your community, Esther!”
“Pow Wow Pitch is an incredible showcase of Indigenous trailblazers who are making a transformative impact on our communities with their resilience, ingenuity and unwavering commitment to success.” said Tracy Antoine, Senior Director of Indigenous Programs and Policies at RBC. “We’re so proud of all our participants and semi-finalists – their courage to participate leads to life achievements and their shared stories are truly inspirational. We are committed to supporting their growth and success in the future.”
“Being involved in Pow Wow Pitch is not just an honour, it’s a privilege to witness the creativity and innovation of Indigenous entrepreneurs,” said Kyle Brennan Shàwinipinesì, Senior Lead for Indigenous Entrepreneurship at Shopify. “It’s a reminder of the resilience and strength of our communities and the power of entrepreneurship to create positive change. Shopify has played a proud role in supporting Pow Wow Pitch, so it is exciting to see how things have grown over the years. What an incredible opportunity for Indigenous entrepreneurs!”
“The innovative thinking and solutions brought forward by all the Indigenous entrepreneurs involved in this year’s Pow Wow Pitch have been truly inspiring,” said Sasha Krstic, President of Mastercard Canada. “At Mastercard, we’re committed to working with partners like Pow Wow Pitch to unlock access to resources and opportunities for entrepreneurs across the diverse communities we serve to power economies and empower people. Congratulations to all the pitchers and congratulations to Esther on advancing to the next round.”
To watch Esther’s winning pitch, click here. Esther will now advance to the Pow Wow Pitch Grand Finale to pitch for the Grand Prize of $25,000, which broadcasts online on October 23rd. Register to watch the 2024 Grand Finale at powwowpitch.org/register.
