Pow Wow Pitch, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs, is proud to announce the awarding of sixteen grants to Indigenous women and two-spirit entrepreneurs in partnership with Aritzia, a design house with an innovative global platform.
Now in its fifth year, the partnership between Pow Wow Pitch and Aritzia continues to support Indigenous women and two-spirit entrepreneurs through funding, visibility and mentorship. What began in 2022 with support for Indigenous fashion entrepreneurs has expanded across the Pow Wow Pitch competition, with eligible Indigenous women and two-spirit entrepreneurs advancing to the Grand Finale receiving an Aritzia Grant.
On September 15, Pow Wow Pitch announced the Finalists advancing to the 2026 Grand Finale. Among this year’s Finalists, sixteen Indigenous women and two-spirit entrepreneurs qualified to receive an Aritzia Grant, representing businesses and organizations across industries including fashion, technology, food and drink, tourism, health and wellness, professional services, sustainability and more.
Meet the 2026 Aritzia Grant Recipients
Aleria McKay, Founder and Director of Miss Indigenous Canada Leadership Development and Ambassador Program, is an Onondaga woman from Six Nations of the Grand River. The program creates leadership development and ambassador opportunities for Indigenous youth, supporting participants in strengthening their leadership skills, connecting with culture and giving back to their communities. Watch Aleria’s Pitch here.
Monique Collins, Founder of Dragonfly Spirit CreeAtions Ltd., is an entrepreneur from Peepeekisis Cree Nation, with her business based in Nisku, Alberta. Dragonfly Spirit CreeAtions offers Indigenous tourism experiences centred on Cree culture, teachings and hospitality. Watch Monique’s Pitch here.
JoLynn Parenteau, Founder and Facilitator of Métis Money Moves, is an Otipemisiwak Métis woman from the Métis Nation of Alberta, with her business based in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Métis Money Moves provides culturally relevant financial education, combining financial literacy with Indigenous values, storytelling and community-based learning. Watch JoLynn’s Pitch here.
Siera Hancharyk, Founder of Three Sisters Indigenous Crafts Market, is an Anishinaabe entrepreneur from Wiikwemkoong First Nation, with her business based in Toronto, Ontario. Three Sisters Indigenous Crafts Market is an Indigenous youth-led grassroots collective creating affordable spaces for Indigenous artists and small businesses to share and sell authentic Indigenous-made products. Watch Siera’s Pitch here.
Neecha Klee, Founder of Aniibiish Herbal, is an entrepreneur from Atikameksheng Anishnawbek, with her business based in Toronto, Ontario. Aniibiish Herbal creates loose-leaf herbal teas inspired by Indigenous plant traditions and designed to support women throughout different phases of their cycles. Watch Neecha’s Pitch here.
Jada Belleau, Founder of Gookom’s Cabinet Mobile Refillery, is an entrepreneur from Garden River First Nation. Her mobile refillery brings refill options directly to customers, encouraging the reuse of containers and providing a lower-waste approach to household and personal care products. Watch Jada’s Pitch here.
Tasha Toulouse, Founder and Owner of Gizaagi’in Home Services, is an entrepreneur from Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation. Gizaagi’in Home Services provides household services to elders, families, kinship families and others who could use an extra helping hand within the community. Watch Tasha’s Pitch here.
Dana Swart, Owner of Trailhead Bread, is a Métis entrepreneur with her business based in Crowsnest Pass, Alberta. A Red Seal Baker and Baking and Pastry Arts graduate, Dana creates handcrafted artisan sourdough and baked goods using local ingredients and flavours wherever possible. Watch Dana’s Pitch here.
Tyler Leslie, Founder of Tyler’s Styling Studio, is an entrepreneur from Yakama Nation, with her business based in Polson, Montana. Through Tyler’s Styling Studio, Tyler combines creativity and fashion to provide styling services that help clients express their personal style. Watch Tyler’s Pitch here.
Alliah Oldpan, Founder of Skydancermovement, is a young entrepreneur from Ermineskin Cree Nation, with her business based in Edmonton, Alberta. Having danced powwow since she was in Tiny Tots, Alliah created Skydancermovement to bring Indigenous youth together through powwow dance, workshops and cultural connection. Watch Alliah’s Pitch here.
Stephanie King, Founder and Owner of Fin & Feather, is an entrepreneur from Timiskaming First Nation, with her business based in East Gwillimbury, Ontario. Drawing on 20 years of experience in the food service industry, Stephanie serves barbecue, dirty sodas and loaded brownie cups at powwows and festivals, with plans to expand Fin & Feather into a year-round business. Watch Stephanie’s Pitch here.
Danielle Boyer, Founder and CEO of The STEAM Connection, is an Anishinaabe robotics inventor and educator from the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, with her business based in Troy, Michigan. The STEAM Connection designs, manufactures and distributes robotics resources with a focus on making technology education more accessible, representative and culturally relevant for youth. Watch Danielle’s Pitch here.
Shilo Cote, Owner and Creator of Quality Quills, is an Algonquin and Odawa artist from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg who has been creating jewelry for more than 20 years. Quality Quills creates handcrafted jewelry using ethically sourced porcupine quills alongside semi-precious stones, crystals, shells, antler and bone. Watch Shilo’s Pitch here.
Shyanne Yellowbird, Founder of mîmîNîsak, is an entrepreneur from Samson Cree Nation with her business based in Pigeon Lake, Alberta and Marysville, Washington. mîmîNîsak brings Indigenous storytelling to life through a line of dolls inspired by the Cree Little People, bringing Cree stories, teachings and representation into products created for children and families. Watch Shyanne’s Pitch here.
Sherry Condo, Owner of Wild Flower Honey, is a Mi’gmaq beekeeper from Listiguj First Nation. Through Wild Flower Honey, Sherry produces local honey while sharing her knowledge of beekeeping and building a Mi’gmaq-owned business rooted in her community. Sherry earned her place in the Grand Finale after winning the 2026 Gesgapegiag Pow Wow Pitch.
Raine Ward, Founder of 2Bear: Indigenous Wellness, is a two-spirit entrepreneur from Metepenagiag Mi’qmak Nation. 2Bear is a Mi’kmaq-owned wellness collective offering holistic wellness, facilitation, workshops, ceremony, traditional food and medicine education, cultural activities and other community-based programming. Rain earned their place in the Grand Finale after winning the 2026 Sitansisk Pow Wow Pitch.
“I feel grateful and honoured to be selected for this grant. This funding will help me continue easing some of the burdens families face and make compassionate, judgment-free support more accessible,” shared Tasha Toulouse, Founder of Gizaagi’in Home Services. “Your support means more than financial assistance; it means having someone believe in me and the difference I hope to make in the lives of families and communities. I hope my journey encourages other Indigenous women to take that first step, ask for help when they need it, and keep going through the tough moments. You are capable of more than you think.”
“We are incredibly grateful to Aritzia for continuing to support Indigenous women and two-spirit entrepreneurs through Pow Wow Pitch,” said Naomi Sarazin, Executive Director of Pow Wow Pitch. “This year’s recipients are building businesses and organizations across so many industries, while bringing their creativity, knowledge and vision to everything they do. Congratulations to all sixteen recipients! We are proud to celebrate you, honour your journeys, and cheer you on as you continue to grow and share your gifts with your communities.”
“Supporting Indigenous communities is a year-round commitment at Aritzia. Through our partnership with Pow Wow Pitch, we are proud to support Indigenous entrepreneurs as they grow their businesses, pursue their ambitions, and create positive impact in their communities,” said Corinne Kepper, Vice President of Corporate Giving at Aritzia. “We are especially proud of the Aritzia employees who volunteer as mentors, helping founders to prepare their presentation for the competition. Together, we are investing in Indigenous entrepreneurship, leadership, and the next generation of indigenous changemakers.”
Through their continued partnership, Pow Wow Pitch and Aritzia are creating opportunities for Indigenous women and two-spirit entrepreneurs to access funding, mentorship and greater visibility as they continue building their businesses and organizations.
All sixteen Aritzia Grant recipients will be pitching in the 2026 Pow Wow Pitch Grand Finale on October 21, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. ET for their chance to win this year’s Grand Prize of $25,000.
Register to watch the Grand Finale at powwowpitch.org/register.