On Saturday, June 28, 2025, Pow Wow Pitch, an Indigenous-led non-profit organization that empowers and supports Indigenous entrepreneurs with access to capital, mentorship, training and support, co-presented by RBC and Mastercard, and with local presenting partners Community Futures Development Corporation of Central Interior First Nations (CFDC of CIFN) and All Nations Trust Company (ANTCO), announced Wendy Landry, Founder of Bebia Cho Foods, from the Deh Gáh Got’îê First Nation as the 2025 Kamloopa Pow Wow Pitch Winner. The First Nation-owned business has won $5,000 for their business and will advance to the 2025 Pow Wow Pitch Grand Finale where they will get the chance to win the grand prize of $25,000.

This past Saturday, 27 Indigenous entrepreneurs pitched their businesses live at the Kamloopa Powwow in Kamloops, British Columbia, for their chance to win cash prizes to advance their businesses.

Host Sunshine Tenasco, Founder & Chair of Pow Wow Pitch, emceed the action-packed program, where Indigenous entrepreneurs had the opportunity to pitch their business ideas and businesses in one-minute for their chance to win prizes and support to make their dreams a reality.  

Following a first-round open pitch on the morning of Saturday, June 28th, judges Jake Carey, Associate Wealth Advisor at RBC; Juanita Jones, Business Loans Manager at ANTCO; Preeti Hiro, Regional Coordinator at EDC; Ashley Michel, Founder & Owner of 4 Generations Creations; and Shawn Bonneau, Community Engagement Coordinator at Cooperatives First shortlisted the ‘Top 10’ entrepreneurs to advance to round two. 

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of Pow Wow Pitch, all participants who pitched at Kamloopa Powwow this year were automatically entered into a special 10-Year Anniversary Raffle for a chance to win one of 10 laptops. The winners were announced during the Top 10 Finalist reveal and celebrated in partnership with the Kamloopa Powwow community. All laptops were generously donated by Mastercard in support of Indigenous entrepreneurs.

Those who received a free laptop were: Stephanie Lindley of Strong Medicine Designs, Kimberly Koyczan of Nature Spirit Soaps, Makayla Mantla of Socks R Us, Sebastien Byrd of Byrds Beans Mobile Machine, Shayla Chalifoux of Shyalish Plants, Tiana Greyeyes of Homies, Jesse Taylor of First-ory, Chase Yamkovy of Primecor Inc., and Jamie & Wydell Rain of Bigfoot Bannock.

The Top 10 were paired up with mentors from RBC, CFDC of CIFN, ANTCO, Futurpreneur, and EDC, to help them polish their presentations before they pitched one last time to judges: George Casimir, General Manager of CFDC of CIFN; Pat Fosbery, CEO of ANTCO; Tracy Antoine, National Advisor of RBC Origins Indigenous Markets; Colin Weeres, Director, Government Affairs and Policy at Mastercard; and Holly Atjecoutay, Head, DEI & Director of Indigenous & Northern Entrepreneurs at Futurpreneur.

The 1st Place $5,000 Prize Winner was Wendy Landry from Deh Gáh Got’îê First Nation, Founder of Bebia Cho Foods, a First Nation-owned snack company bringing delicious, nutritious fruit snacks from the Okanagan to families across Turtle Island. Rooted in a mission to reduce food waste, create jobs, and support food security in Northern and isolated Indigenous communities, Bebia Cho Foods is proudly Deh Gáh Got’îê Dene owned and operated. During her pitch, Wendy Landry shared that she plans to use the funds to invest in packaging and labeling, which are essential steps to making their apple chips more accessible in schools, Indigenous-owned businesses, and beyond.

“I’m so thankful for Pow Wow Pitch, it was a great experience,” shared Wendy Landry. “I encourage anyone else to try it and bring your family for support, they definitely gave me the courage to be here today. This has been a dream of mine to get started on a business and I did it during my maternity leave, so if I can do it, so can you!”

The 2nd Place $2,500 Prize Winner was Jesse K’odi Taylor from Skidegate and Kingcome Inlet First Nations, Founder of First-ory, an Indigenous-led publishing initiative using technology to empower the next generation of language learners. First-ory blends storytelling and innovation to help revitalize Indigenous languages through early childhood education. Founder Jesse Taylor developed First-ory to support families, especially those living away from their home communities, with baby books and tools that make language learning more accessible. During his pitch, Jesse shared plans to invest in the development of a new language-enhancing pen that speaks Indigenous words aloud directly from the pages, helping young learners and adult beginners alike hear and practice their languages with confidence.

“This was one of the best experiences I could have hoped for, everyone was so supportive,” shared Jesse Taylor. “Winning today has given me the confidence and the exposure to get my name and my business out there. My advice to any entrepreneurs out there is to just believe in yourself and go do it. The sooner you challenge yourself and face your fears, the sooner you can start living your dreams.”

The 3rd Place $1,000 Prize Winners were Jamie and Wydell Rain from Little Red River Cree Nation and Paul First Nation, Co-Founders of Bigfoot Bannock, a new catering and dining services based in Kamloops serving new takes on powwow favourites, like bannock, and a blend of traditional and contemporary meals. Jamie and Wydell are both passionate chefs and share a dream of giving back to the community by initiating free food programs for those experiencing homelessness and donating to local food banks. The pair pitched to win funds to cover further startup costs so they can open their doors to the community.

“I was encouraged by a friend who did Pow Wow Pitch last year and she gave me the confidence to take that leap,” shared Jamie Rain. “We were nervous when we first arrived but being surrounded by our people and the culture made us feel so at home and confident. The hardest part was signing up but after that, we knew we could do this together.”

The Fan Favourite $500 Prize Winner was Stephanie Lindley from Okanagan First Nation, Founder of Strong Medicine Designs, a business that is combining Indigenous designed products with self-defence and is on a mission to protect women. Stephanie is an incredibly brave woman who shared her story at Kamloopa of her own experiences facing violence and assault. Her community echoed her support and secured her the Fan Favourite prize to continue her important work in empowering and protecting women.

“I am really happy and proud that I pushed myself to be here today and pitch,” shared Stephanie Lindley. “My advice for future entrepreneurs is to just keep going and believe in yourself. Remember that you are strong medicine.”

The Youth $500 Prize Winner was Kaleb Montgomery-Reid from Lower Similkameen Indian Band, Founder of Reverence Basketball, an Indigenous-led basketball training and mentorship program offering elite skill training and basketball camps to youth. Kaleb is a passionate young entrepreneur that believes in supporting our youth outside sports and prepares them for post-secondary opportunities.

“Today was a great experience,” shared Kaleb Montgomery-Reid. “Pow Wow Pitch was a great opportunity to put myself and my brand out there at one of the biggest powwows in the interior. This was a great challenge and I encourage anyone else to just do it.”

“Congratulations to the outstanding winners of this year’s Kamloopa Pow Wow Pitch. Your passion and dedication are lighting the path forward for Indigenous entrepreneurship,” said Naomi Sarazin, Executive Director of Pow Wow Pitch. “It’s inspiring to see how each of you is showing how business can be a powerful expression of culture, identity, and community care. By leading with purpose and sharing your stories, you’re creating space for future generations to dream big. Miigwech to the Kamloopa Powwow Society for hosting us, and a heartfelt thank you to all 27 pitchers who chose courage to share their vision — your bravery and brilliance made this day truly unforgettable.”

All those who pitched will be welcomed into the Pow Wow Pitch community and gain access to a free Indigenous Startup Program, have the opportunity to have their products and services be considered to be featured in the annual Pow Wow Pitch Box, and will receive a free .CA domain courtesy of CIRA.

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Pow Wow Pitch, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and empowering Indigenous entrepreneurs, co-presented by Mastercard and RBC, proudly announces its continued collaboration with the Kamloopa Powwow Society, taking place in Secwepemcúl’ecw Territory, Kamloops, British Columbia on June 28, 2025.

The 44th Annual Kamloopa Powwow is taking place June 27-29, 2025 at the beautiful Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc Special Events Facility (the Arbour) within Secwepemcúl’ecw to celebrate and honour the community’s vibrant Indigenous culture through dancing and singing.

Kamloopa Powwow Society is hosting Pow Wow Pitch for a fourth-year to put the spotlight on Indigenous vendors, entrepreneurs, artists, entertainers, creators, and innovators attending Kamloopa. Vendors and attendees will have the opportunity to pitch to win $10,000 in cash prizes to take their ideas and businesses to the next level.

How It Works

To enter, vendors, attendees and entrepreneurs can pre-register for limited spots here: powwowpitch.org/kamloopa, with a few spots reserved on the lottery for those who just turn up and want to showcase their business. To pitch, entrepreneurs will have 1-minute to present their ideas or businesses for a chance to win! 

The top 10 pitchers will be paired with mentors to refine their final pitch before presenting to the judges and will also advance to the Turtle Island Semi-Finals where they will have another chance to pitch for the $25,000 Grand Prize. Prizes at Kamloopa include $5,000 for 1st place, $2,500 for 2nd place, $1,000 for 3rd place, $500 for the Youth prize, and $500 for the Fan Favourite. The 1st place winner will also receive a Golden Ticket to the Turtle Island Finale. 

“Kamloopa is one of the most vibrant powwows on Turtle Island and we are grateful to be welcomed back for another year,” said Naomi Sarazin, Executive Director of Pow Wow Pitch. “We are excited to continue our collaboration with the Kamloopa Powwow Society to support the entrepreneurial talent in Secwepemcúl’ecw Territory. Our commitment is to uplift Indigenous entrepreneurs, and this celebration of culture and community is the perfect place to amplify their stories, innovations, and business ideas.”

“Over the past three years, Pow Wow Pitch and the Kamloopa Powwow have grown together, creating meaningful opportunities and strengthening our community in remarkable ways,” said Loreena Seymour, President of the Kamloopa Powwow Society. “Pow Wow Pitch has become an incredible platform for our participants and attendees, fostering entrepreneurship and showcasing the immense talent within Kamloops. Its impact continues to bring our community closer to the powwow spirit while sharing the best of Kamloopa with Turtle Island. We are proud to see this partnership flourish and inspire future generations.”

Join us at the Kamloopa Powwow and pitch your business to win cash prizes of up to $5,000! This is your opportunity to showcase your talent, share your story, and inspire our community. Register now and be a part of the celebration!

All Indigenous entrepreneurs that pitch will be welcomed into the Pow Wow Pitch community and gain access to a free Indigenous Startup Program, have the opportunity to have their products and services be considered to be featured in the annual Pow Wow Pitch Box, and will receive a free .CA domain courtesy of CIRA.

Visit powwowpitch.org/kamloopa to learn more and pre-register to pitch.

Indigenous entrepreneurs across Canada and the United States are also welcomed to pitch for the Turtle Island Pow Wow Pitch Competition held online at powwowpitch.org/pitch until June 3, 2025.

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