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.

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On September 8, 2026, Pow Wow Pitch, an Indigenous-led non-profit organization that hosts Turtle Island’s premier Indigenous Business Pitch Competition for Indigenous entrepreneurs, presented in partnership with RBC and Mastercard, announced Stephanie King, the Timiskaming First Nation Founder and Owner of Fin & Feather, a business based in East Gwillimbury, Ontario, as the 2026 Pow Wow Pitch Startup Semi-Final Winner. Stephanie has won $1,000 and is advancing to the Grand Finale for a chance to win $25,000 to grow her business.

More than 120 Indigenous entrepreneurs from across Turtle Island were selected as Semi-Finalists in this year’s Pow Wow Pitch. Each received training and mentorship to prepare for their semi-final pitch to the Judges, competing for the chance to advance to the Pow Wow Pitch Grand Finale. Ten Startup Semi-Finalists had the opportunity to pitch their business ideas in one-minute for their chance to win an industry prize and a spot in the finals.

Judges included Riley Bonshor, Relationship Manager Intern, Commercial Financial Services at RBC; Ruchie Raj Kumar, Manager, Product Management at Mastercard; and Holly Atecoutay, Head, Inclusive Impact & Director, Indigenous & Northern Entrepreneurs at Futurpreneur.

“I was honestly surprised, excited and really proud. Fin & Feather is still a very new business, and I’ve put so much into getting it off the ground in a short amount of time,” said Stephanie King, Founder and Owner of Fin & Feather. “Winning my Semi-Final category felt like validation that I’m building something people believe in and that all of the long days, travelling, learning and figuring things out as I go are leading somewhere.”

Stephanie King, Founder and Owner of Fin & Feather, is an entrepreneur from Timiskaming First Nation building a new food business in East Gwillimbury, Ontario. Drawing on 20 years of experience in the food service industry, Stephanie launched Fin & Feather after an injury forced her to rethink her career and create something of her own. Serving barbecue, dirty sodas, and loaded brownie cups at powwows and festivals, Fin & Feather has quickly grown from a new idea into a busy event-based business with plans to continue expanding.

In her pitch, Stephanie shared that winning the $25,000 Grand Prize would help her invest in cold storage and faster equipment, allowing Fin & Feather to serve larger crowds and work toward operating year-round. As the business grows, she also plans to create paid, hands-on opportunities for Indigenous youth to join her along the powwow trail and gain experience working in a growing business.

“Don’t wait until everything is perfect before you start. I definitely didn’t have everything figured out when I started Fin & Feather. A lot of it has been learning by doing, listening to customers, making changes and trying again. Starting can be scary, but you learn so much once you actually put your idea out into the world. Believe in what you’re creating, but also be willing to adapt” shared Stephanie King.

The judges commended Stephanie for bringing her years of food service experience into a new business with a clear vision for growth and a commitment to creating opportunities for Indigenous youth.

“Congratulations to Stephanie King on advancing to the 2026 Pow Wow Pitch Grand Finale,” said Naomi Sarazin, Executive Director of Pow Wow Pitch. “Through Fin & Feather, Stephanie is building a business that brings together her experience, her love of food and her connection to community. We are excited to celebrate what she has accomplished in such a short time and see where she takes Fin & Feather next.”

Alongside selecting a winner, the judges also acknowledged the Runner Up for the Startup industry category. John Hawke, Founder of Zaasaakwe, the judges appreciated his vision for creating an Indigenous news and culture broadcast that provides space for grassroots stories and perspectives. Through Zaasaakwe, John is training and employing local storytellers to share community voices, while building a model supported by radio subscriptions, advertising and sponsorships with plans to expand across Ontario.

“We’re committed to playing a role in paving a path forward for Indigenous entrepreneurs, exemplified by our support of Pow Wow Pitch,” said Brittanee Laverdure, Director, Truth and Reconciliation Office, RBC Origins. “Pow Wow Pitch offers a holistic support system to power the next generation of Indigenous innovators across Turtle Island, including this year’s participants and semi-finalists.”

“The creativity, determination, and ambition demonstrated by this year’s Pow Wow Pitch entrepreneurs have been truly inspiring,” said Jennifer M. Sloan, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, Policy and Stakeholder Engagement at Mastercard, Canada. “We’re proud to work alongside partners like Pow Wow Pitch by mentoring pitchers, representing Mastercard’s commitment to help remove barriers and open pathways to growth and economic opportunity. Congratulations to all the pitchers for sharing their business ideas, entrepreneurial journeys, and stories, and a special congratulations to Stephanie King for advancing to the next round.”

To watch Stephanie King’s winning pitch, click here. To watch the Startup Semi-Final episode, click here.

Stephanie will now advance to the Pow Wow Pitch Grand Finale to pitch for the Grand Prize of $25,000, which broadcasts online on October 21, 2026. Register to watch the 2026 Grand Finale at powwowpitch.org/register.

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