Pearl Lorentzen

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeside Leader

Community Futures is holding its third annual Indigenous business event. This time in Wabasca.

Empowering Indigenous Business in Wabasca is a mini conference or one-day workshop, says Divine Kitchen, office manager and project coordinator for Community Futures Lesser Slave Lake Region.

It is September 4 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lakeview Sports Centre in Wabasca.

“Anyone can attend,” she adds. “They don’t have to be a business owner.”

They also don’t have to be Indigenous, although some of the speakers will speak specifically on topics that relate to Indigenous businesses.

When it comes to taxes there are differences between Indigenous and non-Indigenous businesses.

A representative from the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) will talk about “what Indigenous businesses need to know about taxes …,” says Kitchen. “The rest are for everyone to know.”

Jocelyn Eisert is the keynote speaker. She works at Futurpreneur as the business development manager of Indigenous and northern entrepreneurs. She’s the opening and closing speaker. At 11 a.m., she’ll talk about empowering yourself for success. At 2:45 p.m., she’ll talk about Futurpreneur’s Indigenous business support program, which helps aspiring Indigenous business owners aged 18 to 39.

Cliff Turner, from ATB, returns for a second year to talk about tapping Alberta’s business ecosystemn.

“His presentation’s quite good,” says Kitchen, “because it is informative.”

Community Futures has rotated this event throughout the Lesser Slave Lake region.

The first one was three years ago at the Slave Lake Native Friendship Centre. Last year, it was at the High Prairie Native Friendship Centre. This year, Atoske Action Group and M.D. of Opportunity partnered on the event with Community Futures.

The event is free and includes lunch. To register, go to communityfuturessl.com/events.