Tuesday, August 1st | In the world of filmmaking and entrepreneurship, few stories are as inspiring as that of Erica Daniels and her media company, Kejic Productions. A Cree-Ojibwe multi award-winning documentary filmmaker and entrepreneur, Erica’s journey has been one fueled by passion, storytelling, and a commitment to working with Indigenous youth. Her dedication to showcasing Indigenous stories from a truthful and authentic perspective has not only earned her numerous accolades but has also paved the way for Indigenous voices to be heard and recognized on a national level.

Erica’s love for storytelling began at the age of 15 when she participated in the program “Just TV,” designed for at-risk youth in Winnipeg’s inner city. It was there that she learned the art of multimedia, video production, and editing, igniting her passion for being a storyteller. As her skills grew, she eagerly embraced every opportunity that came her way, documenting community events and programming, particularly focusing on Indigenous content and storytelling.

The path that led to the birth of Kejic Productions was one of self-discovery and perseverance. Initially, Erica saw her work as a freelance filmmaker, driven solely by her love for storytelling and her desire to share Indigenous narratives with the world. Little did she know that her passion would pave the way for a thriving media company.

After the birth of her daughter, Erica faced a critical decision point in her life. She had to choose between the stability of a full-time job at CBC and fully committing to her passion for storytelling through Kejic Productions. Despite the risks involved, Erica took a leap of faith, deciding to venture into entrepreneurship. It was a significant turning point that transformed her love for storytelling into a thriving business.

The early stages of Kejic Productions were not without challenges. Like many entrepreneurs, Erica had to overcome a steep learning curve in managing a business. She realized that she couldn’t wear all the hats and learned to build a team to support her vision. Through dedication, hard work, and the support of her family, friends, and mentors, Erica navigated these obstacles and turned Kejic Productions into a growing and successful venture.

One of the key themes that Erica advocates is the importance of hiring Indigenous companies and promoting Indigenous leadership when working with Indigenous clients or communities. She firmly believes that Indigenous people possess a unique understanding of their stories and experiences, making them the most qualified to lead in the storytelling process. By elevating Indigenous voices to leadership positions, these stories can be portrayed authentically and truthfully, free from misinterpretation or misrepresentation.

In the business world, Erica observes that there is still room for growth in supporting and hiring Indigenous businesses. She encourages organizations to actively seek out Indigenous companies and entrepreneurs to collaborate with. By doing so, they can foster an environment of diversity and inclusion, while also helping Indigenous businesses grow and thrive.

Within the film industry, Erica’s advocacy for Indigenous leadership is equally strong. By giving Indigenous filmmakers and storytellers the space to take the helm, their narratives can be told with the depth and understanding they deserve. This shift in the industry is crucial to break away from the historical misrepresentation of Indigenous communities and to allow for a more authentic portrayal of their culture, history, and way of life.

As Erica’s journey continues, she remains committed to investing in Indigenous youth and nurturing the next generation of storytellers. Through her dedication and passion, she sets an example for aspiring entrepreneurs and filmmakers alike, demonstrating that with determination, support, and the belief in oneself, it is possible to turn one’s passion into a successful and impactful venture.

In conclusion, Erica Daniels’ entrepreneurial journey with Kejic Productions stands as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring Indigenous entrepreneurs and storytellers. Her commitment to empowering Indigenous voices, preserving cultural narratives, and nurturing youth serves as a reminder of the transformative power of storytelling and the positive impact it can have on communities and society as a whole. As more individuals and businesses embrace the importance of Indigenous leadership and storytelling sovereignty, we move one step closer to a more inclusive and enriched world.

Listen now to Erica’s advice and journey on the Pow Wow Pitch Podcast at powwowpitch.org/podcast.

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On Saturday, May 20th, 2023, Pow Wow Pitch, North America’s premier pitch competition for Indigenous entrepreneurs, presented in partnership with RBC, Shopify,and Mastercard, announced Tara Hall, from Pinaymootang First Nation, founder of The Indigenous Kitchen, as the 2023 Pow Wow Pitch Manito Ahbee Festival Winner. Tara has won $5,000, a $20,000 value package in digital marketing from IndigPro, and is advancing to the Finals for a chance to win $25,000 to grow her business.

Thirty Indigenous entrepreneurs pitched their businesses live at the Manito Ahbee Festival in Winnipeg, Manitoba, for their chance to win cash prizes and advance to the Pow Wow Pitch Finals. 

Host Sunshine Tenasco, Founder 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. 

This past weekend’s events were also covered by last year’s Manito Ahbee Festival winner, Erica Daniels, Founder of Kejic Productions. Erica’s team followed Sunshine Tenasco and the Pow Wow Pitch team for a mini-documentary.

Following a first-round open pitch on the morning of Saturday, May 20th, judges Noah Wilson, Senior Business Development Manager at Futurpreneur Canada, Yvette Shang, Senior Advisor in Business Development of Mitacs, Melanie Gamache, Founder of Borealis Beading, Nermin Sa’d, Global Entrepreneurship Specialist of North Forge Technology Exchange, and Sage Lacerte, Founder and CEO of Sage Initiatives, shortlisted the ‘Top 11’ entrepreneurs to advance to round two. 

The Top 11 entrepreneurs were paired with mentors from Futurepreneur Canada, Mitacs, North Forge Technology Exchange, Sage Initiatives, and IndigPro to help them polish their presentations before they pitched one last time to judges Erica Daniels, CEO of Kejic Productions, Sean Rayland Bourbar, CEO of Red Rebel Armour, Dwayne Bird, CEO of IndigPro, and Clarissa Cruz, CEO of Bare Body Sugaring.

“Doing this Pow Wow Pitch was amazing,” said First-Place Winner Tara Hall, Founder of The Indigenous Kitchen. “It was my first try, so I want to say ‘Give it a try and it was worth a shot.’” Tara shares her advice to other entrepreneurs, “Somebody said that the worst case scenario was that someone was going to say ‘No’ to me but to just keep on trying, so that’s what I did.”

Tara’s business, The Indigenous Kitchen, is a local food truck in Winnipeg that specializes in traditional Indigenous food. The Indigenous Kitchen was a vendor at the Manito Ahbee Festival and celebrated a sold-out weekend on top of bringing home the Pow Wow Pitch First-Place Prize. Tara shared in her pitch that she has goals to turn her food truck into a fine dining experience inspired by her traditional meals. “I want to showcase the foods that I grew up eating and to elevate them into a fine dining setting with new techniques that everyone can love and enjoy.”

The Second-Place $2,500 Prize Winner was Jordan Smith, Founder of Renterii, a rental share app that allows users to rent out items, spaces, and experiences. “I’m beyond appreciative for this opportunity to put a spotlight on what I’m doing,” said Jordan. “This is going to help me with the start-up side of my business and to keep marketing and development going forward.”

The Third-Place $1,000 winners were Dana Conolly, Shauna Fontaine, and Brittany Grisdale, co-Founders of Pitâw Mīno Muskiki, a fully women and Indigenous owned marketplace, specializing in uplifting handmade products. Shauna Fontaine commented. “We are excited to use this money to continue to help build relationships with youth, and to be able to help pay them honorarium for helping out as volunteers at our markets.” Dana Conolly continues, “And we are really excited about this opportunity to continue to be able to host our Indigenous handmade markets and supporting Indigenous entrepreneurship.”

In addition to Second and Third Place Prize money, both Renterii and Pitâw Mīno Muskiki will each receive a $5,000 value brand development package courtesy of IndigPro.

The Youth Prize of $500 and Fan Favourite Prize of $500 both went to Simon Monteith, a.k.a Simon the Scientist, who is inspiring the younger generation through science experiments on his YouTube channel. Simon shared his wisdom beyond his years to any entrepreneurs who may be thinking about pitching in the future, “Nervousness is just excitement for something that hasn’t happened yet.”

“Congratulations to Tara Hall on her Golden Ticket win to advance to the 2023 Pow Wow Pitch Finals,” said Sunshine Tenasco, Founder of Pow Wow Pitch. “Lines for her food truck could be seen all weekend long and we applaud her success and passion!  We can’t wait to see where she grows from here and what delicious meal she creates next!”

“Pow Wow Pitch is a tremendous showcase of Indigenous innovation and entrepreneurship, and the stories and achievements of this year’s semi-finalists are a testament to their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit,” said Michael Ferencich, Senior Vice President, Business Financial Services, RBC. “We’re so proud of all our participants and semi-finalists, and we will continue to support their growth and success in the future.”

All those who pitched at the Manito Ahbee Festival Pow Wow Pitch will receive a free .CA domain name courtesy of CIRA, a 60-day free Shopify trial, and will join the Pow Wow Pitch community for ongoing support.

“Being involved in Pow Wow Pitch is not just an honor, it’s a privilege to witness the creativity and innovation of Indigenous entrepreneurs,” said Kyle Brennan Shàwinipinesì, Senior Lead for Indigenous Entrepreneurship at Shopify. “It’s a reminder of the resilience and strength of our communities and the power of entrepreneurship to create positive change. Shopify has played a proud role in supporting Pow Wow Pitch, so it is exciting to see how things have grown over the years. What an incredible opportunity for Indigenous entrepreneurs!”

“At Mastercard, we’ve been inspired by the innovative thinking and solutions brought forward by all the Indigenous entrepreneurs involved in this year’s Pow Wow Pitch,” said Sasha Krstic, President of Mastercard in Canada. “The future is brighter when Indigenous entrepreneurship is recognized, supported and celebrated, and we are honoured to play a role in continued success and growth of these entrepreneurs. Congratulations to all the pitchers and congratulations to Tara on advancing to the next round.”

“This year the Manito Ahbee Festival was a success with record breaking attendance. With our new programming Red Road Runway, jig n jam, partnerships with Treaty 2, MICEC ( big bingo) and Anishiinaabek Odaminoang – Manito Ahbee Cup Hockey tournament people from all over turtle island came out and supported,” said Candice Hart, Program & Pow Wow Manager, Manito Ahbee Festival. “Also returning this year was our Indian Horse Relay was a big success with Elite Indian Horse Relay Association. Without all our managers and volunteers we would not be able to run this festival without them.” 

“Congratulations to winners Tara Hall at the Indigenous Kitchen, Jordan Smith at Renterii.com , and the ladies of Pitâ Mīno Muskiki for winning top three spots, and for everyone who entered,” said Lisa Meeches, Executive Director, Manito Ahbee Festival. “The Manito Ahbee Festival is so proud to support young Indigenous entrepreneurs and future leaders. Chii miigwetch to Sunshine Tenasco and her team for their work to support growing Indigenous businesses and I can’t wait to see these innovative people flourish and inspire more Indigenous creators.”

Tara will now advance to the Pow Wow Pitch Finals to pitch for the Grand Prize of $25,000, which broadcasts online on October 19, 2023. Visit www.powwowpitch.org for more information.

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On May 19th, Pow Wow Pitch, North America’s premier pitch competition and non-profit organization supporting emerging Indigenous entrepreneurs, announced its newest partnership with Kejic Productions, as a local presenting partner at the Manito Ahbee Festival in Winnipeg, Manitoba. 

Kejic Productions is a Winnipeg-based company owned and operated by Cree/Ojibway Producer and Director, Erica Daniels. Erica has been an entrepreneur for several years and founded the company in 2017. Kejic Productions creates, develops and produces films, community and corporate videos; as well, provides event photography and marketing services.

Last year, Erica Daniels won her first pitch competition at the Manito Ahbee Festival. She later went on to win the Pow Wow Pitch Finale and took home the grand prize of $25,000 to grow her company. Erica pitched several times before and her resilience is worth celebrating with this partnership.

This year, Pow Wow Pitch is proud to welcome Erica and her company as a local presenting partner at the Manito Ahbee Festival. Kejic Productions will spearhead the video production covering interviews with mentors, judges, entrepreneurs, and sponsors. Kejic Productions will also be working on a mini-documentary project at the event for Pow Wow Pitch. Erica will also be featured as a judge in the round one pitches at Manito Ahbee Festival.

“We could not be more proud of Erica and her team,” said Sunshine Tenasco, founder of Pow Wow Pitch. “Erica’s resilience and passion truly shines and watching her grow from a pitcher to a collaborating partner has been an incredible experience. We are so proud to welcome Kejic Productions and can’t wait to see them work their magic.” 

“I am so grateful for Sunshine and the entire Pow Wow Pitch family for not only supporting the growth of Kejic Productions but for their dedication to uplifting Indigenous entrepreneurs all across Turtle Island,” said Erica Daniels. “I’m so excited to be able to give back in a way that is most special to me, by helping tell the story of Powwow Pitch and highlighting Indigenous entrepreneurs here in Manitoba! I look forward to seeing all the amazing pitches this year!” 

Read more about Erica’s inspiring story 

Award-winning Cree/Ojibway filmmaker, Erica Daniels is a documentary director, producer, entrepreneur and a proud mother of three from Peguis First Nation. Based in Winnipeg,

Erica’s media company, Kejic Productions (est. 2017), emerged from her passion to share the stories of her community through an Indigenous lens. She values heart-centered stories that amplify Indigenous voices, while focusing upon healing, cultural revitalization, knowledge preservation, education and social change. Erica’s journey began in JUST TV, a multimedia program for at-risk youth in Winnipeg’s inner city. 

Through this program, she was able to better her life and gain extensive skills in the media industry. In turn, Erica continues to pursue her commitment of uplifting Indigenous youth by helping them reclaim their cultural identity. Erica currently runs a cultural program at the Broadway Neighbourhood Centre and is the co-creator and facilitator of Spirit of the Story, a film training program for Indigenous youth.

Inspired by the resilience of her community and the beauty of her culture, Erica shares her gift of storytelling through filmmaking. She embraces the important role of sharing Indigenous history, and values the preservation of cultural teachings shared by Elders in her community, in hopes to reach and inspire future generations.

About Kejic Productions

Kejic Productions is a multi-award-winning production company that is Indigenous owned and operated. We are located on an Urban Reserve in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Established in 2017 by Cree/Ojibway Director and Producer, Erica Daniels, Kejic Productions specializes in producing high-end, cinematic documentaries, and community and corporate and videos, music videos and live streaming; as well as marketing and event photography. We are dedicated to creating engaging, powerful stories and strive to deliver captivating and effective digital video content from an authentic Indigenous lens.

At Kejic Productions, we are dedicated to training the next generation of Indigenous storytellers. Through mentorship, we encourage and train Indigenous youth by providing on-the-job training opportunities such as working on a live set as well as post-production with industry-standard equipment.

Here at Kejic Productions, we believe that Indigenous stories should be told through an Indigenous lens. That way, we are ensuring that our culture, language and heritage is shared authentically in collaboration with the community to honour stories and protocol respectfully and truthfully.

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Pow Wow Pitch, Canada’s premier pitch competition for emerging Indigenous entrepreneurs, announced Erica Daniels, Founder and CEO of Kejic Productions as the 2023 Winner of the competition and the recipient of the Grand Prize of $25,000. 

Following a qualifying Semi-Final Round, the top 25 Indigenous entrepreneurs, from more than 2,400 applications from across Canada and the United States, went head-to-head pitching their businesses to an esteemed panel of Judges as part of the 2022 Pow Wow Pitch presented in partnership with RBC, Shopify, Meta and Mastercard. 

Hosted by Sunshine Tenasco, the creator of Pow Wow Pitch, the showdown featured entrepreneurs from nations across Turtle Island like the Mi’kmaq, Mohawk and Algonquin, Cree, Inuit, Métis and Squamish. 

The entrepreneurs pitched to an esteemed panel of Judges who scored and selected the winners. The 2022 Judges included the 2021 Pow Wow Pitch Winner Harlan Kingfisher, Founder and CEO of Smudge the Blades; Tamer Gabbour, Senior Account Manager at RBC; Carey Calder, Program Lead for North America & APAC Regions at Shopify; Debbie Reid, Indigenous Policy Manager at Meta; and Christy Buchanan, Director of Account Management at Mastercard.

MEET THE WINNERS

The First Place Prize of $25,000 presented by RBC and Shopify went to Erica Daniels, Founder & CEO of Kejic Productions, from Peguis First Nation in Manitoba. Erica’s business, Kejic Productions, is a Winnipeg-based company that creates, develops and produces films and community and corporate videos, provides event photography and marketing services, and supports Indigenous youth with on-the-job training. Watch Erica’s pitch. 

“I have always been inspired by capturing the stories of my community through video,” said the First-Place 2022 Pitch Winner Erica Daniels. “Our passionate female team of Indigenous filmmakers are creating with an authentic perspective and are amplifying Indigenous voices for cultural revitalization, education and social change.”

Erica plans to use the $25,000 to hire and train aspiring Indigenous filmmakers, purchase high-grade production equipment and move into a large studio to provide ongoing training for Indigenous youth.  

“It was so exciting to see so many people pitching and our community really thriving,” Erica goes on to say. “This is my third time pitching, so I just want to encourage everyone not to give up and to thank our community for all the support they give us. I also want to encourage Indigenous entrepreneurs to continue to take up space, use their voices, use their gifts and always support one another. We are the seventh generation breaking cycles and blazing trails for our young ones.”

The Second Place Prize of $10,000 presented by Mastercard went to Sean Rayland-Boubar, Founder of Winnipeg-based Red Rebel Armour from Sagkeeng First Nation. Red Rebel Armour is an authentic streetwear brand on a social mission to support reentry into the workforce. Watch Sean’s pitch.

“Pow Wow Pitch has given me a chance to grow as an entrepreneur and as a person, helping me get out of my comfort zone,” said Sean Rayland-Boubar. “There are so many awesome businesses out here, and I am thankful and proud of this accomplishment.”

The Third Place Prize of $5,000 presented by Meta went to Ruby Daniels, the 16-year-old Founder of 3R Innovative Imaging from One Arrow First Nation in Saskatchewan, a student-run business that repurposes old cabinet doors into one-of-a-kind art.

“You can accomplish anything when you put in the time and effort and build a strong team,” said Ruby Daniels. “We hope our success will inspire other youth following in our footsteps to become positive change makers. We want the youth to push through even if they’re scared because the best opportunities are terrifying but most rewarding.” Watch Ruby’s pitch. 

ALUMNI PRIZE RECIPIENTS

In addition to announcing the top three winners, three Finalists were also awarded Alumni Prizes of $5,000, a prize pooled together by Pow Wow Pitch Alumni who have benefited from the program and community and matched with the support of Mastercard.  

Taalrumiq Christina King, who is Taalrumiq, Inuvialuit & Gwich’in and is currently living in British Columbia, creates original Inuit fine art, Inuvialuit couture garments and accessories and offers cultural consulting services such as sewing workshops, public speaking and Inuvialuit digital content. “I want to thank my parents, community, everyone who has supported me and the team at Pow Wow Pitch for creating such a supportive and positive platform and community,” said Taalrumiq. Watch Taalrumiq’s pitch. 

Cece Meadows, the Founder and CEO of Prados Beauty, is Comanche and Yaqui from New Mexico. Prados Beauty is an inclusive and uplifting BIPOC beauty brand created to create space for Indigenous peoples throughout Turtle Island. “It is so difficult for Indigenous women-owned businesses to get funding. So to come to Pow Wow Pitch, to be honest and authentic and to be awarded an Alumni Prize is an honour,” said Cece. “This community is about spreading love and awareness, bringing Indigenous entrepreneurs across Turtle Island to the forefront, taking up space where we belong.” Watch Cece’s pitch. 

Teresa Sanders, the Métis Founder and CEO of FILL- Vernon’s Refill Store in Vernon, BC, is the third recipient of a 2022 Alumni Prize. FILL is a refill store where customers ‘fill’ their cleaning and hygiene products using their existing containers to help keep plastic out of landfills and oceans. “It is important to value and protect our earth, and I am grateful that our community in the Okanagan has embraced that. I am honoured to be part of the Pow Wow Pitch community and proud to be part of the Alumni Network,” said Teresa. “This is a great time to be an Indigenous entrepreneur with our Indigenous worldview and values of protecting our earth being valued by the masses.” 

“This year, Pow Wow Pitch returned to its roots on the powwow trail while using digital technology to engage and uplift Indigenous entrepreneurs across Turtle Island,” said Sunshine Tenasco, Founder of Pow Wow Pitch. “I have been blown away by the passion, resilience, impact and camaraderie of the semi-finalists, finalists and winners. The future is bright for Indigenous entrepreneurs and the Indigenous economy! Congratulations to Erica, Sean, Ruby, Taalrumiq, Cece and Teresa! Each of you displays the promise, vision and impact of Indigenous entrepreneurs, and I know you all have bright futures ahead. ”

“Congratulations to all of the Indigenous Entrepreneurship Award Winners,” said Dale Sturges, National Director for Indigenous Financial Services at RBC. “What a tremendous showcase of Indigenous entrepreneurs leading the way in innovation and creativity.”

“It was remarkable to participate in Pow Wow Pitch to watch such a talented and creative group of Indigenous entrepreneurs come together,” said Kyle St-Amour-Brennan, Build Native Indigenous Program Manager at Shopify. “Although this event has a competitive element, it was incredible to feel the energy and spirit of community and the connection between the entrepreneurs and partners. The Build Native team with Shopify has played a proud role in supporting Pow Wow Pitch, so it is exciting to see how things have grown over the years. What a great opportunity for Indigenous entrepreneurs!”

“At Meta, we are thrilled to support Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs who are driving innovation and change in their communities,” said Debbie Reid, Indigenous Policy Manager at Meta. “Recognizing the importance of Indigenous voices and the limitless potential of Indigenous entrepreneurs is vital to the growth of the Canadian economy. We congratulate Erica Daniels, Sean, Rub and all those who participated in Pow Wow Pitch.”

“Congratulations to the 2022 Pow Wow Pitch winners!” said Sasha Krstic, President of Mastercard Canada. “At Mastercard, we know the future is brighter when Indigenous entrepreneurship is recognized, supported and celebrated. All of this year’s competitors demonstrated what it means to lead with creativity, resiliency and innovation.”

To watch the Grand Finale, click here.

To book an interview with Pow Wow Pitch Founder Sunshine Tenaco, Erica Daniels, Sean-Rayland Boubar, Ruby Daniels, Taalrumiq Christina King, Cece Meadows or Theresa Saunders, please contact hello@powwowpitch.org.

About Pow Wow Pitch 

Pow Wow Pitch is an entrepreneurship program for emerging Indigenous entrepreneurs, which provides a safe, supportive, collaborative, empowering and culturally supportive environment that addresses the unique challenges of Indigenous entrepreneurs and aspiring Indigenous entrepreneurs. Pow Wow Pitch enhances, develops and accelerates the growth for current and aspiring Indigenous entrepreneurs in a sustainable way through programs and resources. Community leadership through volunteerism is promoted with respect and reciprocity as the foundation of the Pow Wow Pitch. For more information, visit https://www.powwowpitch.org/.

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