Pow Wow Pitch, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and empowering Indigenous entrepreneurs, co-presented in partnership with RBC and Mastercard, announced the selection of artist Saelym DeGrandpre’s piece ‘Lofi’ as the official art for the 2026 Pow Wow Pitch Box, a mailer box featuring quality products created by early-stage Indigenous entrepreneurs.

Pow Wow Pitch supports emerging Indigenous-owned businesses by creating opportunities for visibility, recognition, and access to mentorship, funding, and community support to grow their ventures. Since launching in 2021, the Pow Wow Pitch Box program has showcased both digital and physical products from Indigenous entrepreneurs, connecting them with new audiences across the country.

Each year, Pow Wow Pitch collaborates with Indigenous artists to bring the Box design to life. In 2026, Saelym DeGrandpre was selected for her distinctive artistic approach and her work advancing Inuit representation within contemporary design.

About Saelym DeGrandpre

Saelym DeGrandpre is an urban Inuk graphic designer, artist, and mother based in Ottawa, Ontario.Saelym graduated from Algonquin College with a General Arts and Science in Aboriginal Studies.

Saelym’s work is rooted in a desire to increase Inuit representation in media, creating space for people to see themselves reflected through design and storytelling. Through her graphic design practice, she has collaborated with organizations including APTN, Know History, Canada’s History Society, Pinnguaq, Pauktuutit, Tungasuvvingat Inuit, Connected North, Winterlude, and more.

Saelym’s multidisciplinary practice spans graphic design, carving, digital illustration, printmaking, and jewelry making. Drawing inspiration from Inuit legends and teachings, femininity, contemporary art, and spirituality, she incorporates Tunniit, or traditional Inuit tattoos, as a form of visual storytelling that conveys energy, sound, and emotion while bringing Inuit culture to the forefront of design.

About ‘Lofi’

‘Lofi’ is a contemporary digital artwork that explores the connection between music, creativity, and cultural identity. Inspired by the creation of her first Inuk drum, the piece reflects how rhythm and sound shape both artistic practice and personal growth. In Inuit culture, music holds deep meaning, from throat singing and lullabies to drum dancing and storytelling that marks seasonal changes like the return of the sun.

Through ‘Lofi’, Saelym reimagines music interfaces through an Inuit lens, blending cultural elements with modern design. The work reflects her use of music, particularly lo-fi, as a tool to focus, create, and fully immerse herself in her process.

Saelym’s work reflects her journey as an Indigenous entrepreneur learning to create on her own terms. By embracing her natural creative rhythm, she has developed an approach that prioritizes authenticity, cultural connection, and sustainability.

Creating Space Through Entrepreneurship

“Indigenous entrepreneurship means creating space for our stories, our representation, and our design perspectives to be seen, valued, and sustained,” Saelym shared. “Music has become a tool that supports my creativity and allows me to create work I am proud to share.”

On her collaboration with the Pow Wow Pitch Box, she adds, “I’m honoured to have my work featured on the Pow Wow Pitch Box. Being part of something that uplifts Indigenous entrepreneurs and creatives means a lot to me. It’s important that our stories and perspectives are represented across all spaces, including design.”

“Pow Wow Pitch is proud to feature Saelym DeGrandpre in our 2026 Pow Wow Pitch Box,” said Naomi Sarazin, Executive Director of Pow Wow Pitch. “We first saw Saelym’s work last year when she was a 2025 Semi-Finalist, and we are always thrilled to collaborate with Indigenous entrepreneurs who have been part of our programming. This year marks our first collaboration with an Inuk artist for the Pow Wow Pitch Box. Through Lofi, Saelym brings Inuit culture to life in a contemporary design. We are honoured to showcase her work and to continue our commitment to increasing visibility for Indigenous artists across Turtle Island.”

With ‘Lofi’, Saelym’s work will help inspire and uplift a new wave of Indigenous entrepreneurs, connecting creativity, culture, and business through the Pow Wow Pitch Box.

Applications to be featured in the 2026 Pow Wow Pitch Box will open on April 17, 2026.

To view more of Saelym’s work, visit Taqqiq.

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Pow Wow Pitch, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and empowering Indigenous entrepreneurs, co-presented in partnership with RBC and Mastercard, announced the selection of artist Angela Gillette’s piece ‘Sisterhood’ as the official art for the 2025 Pow Wow Pitch Box, a mailer box featuring quality products created by early-stage Indigenous entrepreneurs.

Pow Wow Pitch provides emerging Indigenous-owned businesses with the opportunity to gain exposure and recognition, and access support, mentorship, and funding to take their business to the next level. The Pow Wow Pitch Box program was created in 2021 to support the procurement of digital and physical products from Indigenous entrepreneurs to support and provide a platform for them to reach hundreds of new customers.

Each year Pow Wow Pitch collaborates with leading Indigenous artists for the Box design, this year Angela Gillette was selected, recognizing her unique path from Pow Wow Pitch Alumni to valued collaborator and ambassador.

About Angela Gillette

Angela Gillette, a member of the Three Affiliates Tribes of North and South Dakota, is the founder of White Corn Wear—an apparel and accessories brand known for its beautiful satin skirts featuring her original designs. With a background in accounting and finance, Angela discovered her creative side through digital art, using photographs and graphic design to bring her ideas to life. Inspired by her daughter and encouraged by artist Butch Thunderhawk, she embraced the idea that art can take many forms. Her work draws from the Plains ledger art style, which she reimagines through modern digital techniques.

What began as a vision for custom purse linings evolved into a successful brand that’s become a staple on the powwow trail, often selling out before the end of the powwow. Angela’s ability to blend entrepreneurship with cultural storytelling sets her work apart. Through White Corn Wear, she continues to celebrate identity, creativity, and self-made artistry.

About ‘Sisterhood’

‘Sisterhood’ is a powerful digital artwork by Angela Gillette that honours the strength, connection, and resilience of Indigenous women. Inspired by a photo of her daughter and her friends within the powwow circle, the piece reflects the deep bonds formed through culture, tradition, and shared experience. Featuring three traditional dancers, the artwork is a hand-selected variation of Angela’s signature dancer design seen on her renowned satin skirts from White Corn Wear. 

“‘Sisterhood’ is really close to my heart,” shared Angela Gillette, Founder and Owner of White Corn Wear. “Growing up in the powwow circle, I gained a sisterhood of women who’ve supported me through life, and I’ve seen my daughter build the same kind of circle around her.”

Each dancer represents a facet of sisterhood, but the figure on the left—clad in a red dress marked with handprints—holds special significance. This red dress is a tribute to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) movement, and a deeply personal remembrance of Angela’s sister-in-law, Olivia Lone Bear. 

Angela continues to speak Olivia’s name and use her art to raise awareness for MMIWG, honouring her family, Olivia’s children, and countless others impacted. ‘Sisterhood’ is more than a design—it is a visual story of connection, loss, and the enduring spirit of Indigenous women.

To view more of Angela’s work, visit White Corn Wear. 

On her collaboration with the Pow Wow Pitch Box, Angela shares the following, “I’m truly humbled that my artwork was chosen to be the centerpiece of the Pow Wow Pitch Box. It’s an honor to represent women, Native entrepreneurs, and small business owners in such a meaningful way. I’m passionate about supporting others on their business journeys—especially those just starting with a small idea. To be part of something that celebrates and uplifts Indigenous innovation makes me incredibly proud.”

Angela shares a final note to Indigenous entrepreneurs on their own journeys, “Don’t stop taking steps—even small ones. There are so many of us out here willing to help, and I’m always happy to talk shop with anyone who’s serious about building something real and sustainable.”

“Pow Wow Pitch is incredibly proud to feature Angela Gillette in our 2025 Pow Wow Pitch Box,” said Naomi Sarazin, Executive Director of Pow Wow Pitch. “As a Pow Wow Pitch Alumni, Angela embodies the spirit of Indigenous entrepreneurship—grounded in culture, resilience, and storytelling. Her artwork is both deeply personal and profoundly powerful, sharing stories of sisterhood, community, and advocacy through her distinct visual style, which blends Plains ledger art with digital techniques. We are honoured to showcase her work and amplify the truth of Indigenous experiences through the lens of artistic storytelling in this year’s Pow Wow Pitch Box.”

With ‘Sisterhood,’ Angela’s work is set to empower and celebrate a new wave of Indigenous entrepreneurs to reach new heights and opportunities through the Pow Wow Pitch Box.

The inside of the Box also features a poem by Indigenous poet Tenille K Campbell, commissioned for Pow Wow Pitch called ‘What If,’ which speaks to possibility and community.

Applications to be featured in the 2025 Pow Wow Pitch Box will open on April 17, 2025.

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Pow Wow Pitch, an Indigenous-led non-profit organization that empowers and supports Indigenous entrepreneurs with access to capital, mentorship, training, and support, presented in partnership with RBC, Shopify, and Mastercard Canada, announced the selection of artist Steven Paul Judd’s piece ‘All My Relations’ as the official art for the 2024 Pow Wow Pitch Box, a mailer box featuring quality products created by early-stage Indigenous entrepreneurs.

Pow Wow Pitch provides emerging Indigenous-owned businesses with the opportunity to gain exposure and recognition, and access support, mentorship, and funding to take their business to the next level. The Pow Wow Pitch Box is a collaborative initiative of Pow Wow Pitch to procure products from the Indigenous entrepreneurs it supports and to provide a platform for the entrepreneurs to reach hundreds of new customers.

Each year, Pow Wow Pitch collaborates with leading Indigenous artists to feature their work on the design of the Box itself and this year, it approached Steven Paul Judd for the collaboration following a longstanding admiration of his art and his entrepreneurial impact across Turtle Island.

Steven Paul Judd is Kiowa and Choctaw from Oklahoma. He is a filmmaker, director, screenwriter, fiction author, and visualist. As a prolific visualist, Steven’s mash-ups of Native experiences and pop art encourages thought-provoking themes while embracing humour. His creations include paintings, prints, poster art, photography, and t-shirt designs. Judd is a business partner of TheNTVS.com, a premium Native American streetwear clothing line, and he frequently travels for speaking engagements and to teach workshops on stop-motion animation and mosaic painting at schools and universities across the United States. 

About ‘All My Relations’

‘All My Relations’ is a mosaic portrait to honour the Indigenous Nations, each with their own unique culture, from their music and food to their songs and language. Originally an acrylic piece on a 7’3” x 7’3” canvas, the mosaic portrait has evolved as a digital illustration. Incorporating an incredible use of beautiful colours to represent the diversity and vibrancy of all Nations across Turtle Island. 

Speaking to the diversity among Indigenous peoples, Steven’s message amplifies the celebration of culture at the root of Indigenous entrepreneurship and business while recognizing the unique challenges most face. 

“Being an Indigenous entrepreneur, we may face unique challenges related to access to resources and market opportunities,” shared Steven. “However, I have noticed in my own journey the overwhelming support Indian Country gives to Native-run business and I’m excited to see so many draw from their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and community values in their business endeavors.”

To view more of Steven Paul Judd’s work, visit www.thentvs.com/steven-paul-judd. 

On his collaboration with the Pow Wow Pitch Box, Steven shares the following, “I wanted to work with Pow Wow Pitch on the Pitch Box because of their work in empowering Native entrepreneurs, fostering economic independence, and identifying untapped potential within Indigenous communities.”

“Pow Wow Pitch is incredibly proud to welcome Steven to this year’s Pow Wow Pitch Box,” said Naomi Sarazin, Executive Director of Pow Wow Pitch. “I have been following Steven for a long time and his artwork speaks so profoundly of walking in two worlds, bringing Native humour to thought provoking pop art themes. His artwork tells stories, and his creativity and entrepreneurial spirit are truly inspirational and so important to our collective actualization and celebration of who we are as Indigenous peoples. I’m excited for everyone to experience ‘All My Relations’ and bring a piece of Steven’s art into their lives through the Pow Wow Box.”

With ‘All My Relations,’ Steven’s work is set to empower and celebrate a new wave of Indigenous entrepreneurs to reach new heights and opportunities through the Pow Wow Pitch Box.

Pre-orders for the 2024 Pow Wow Pitch Box are open now until June 30, 2024 at powwowpitch.org/box.

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