On October 21, 2026, Pow Wow Pitch, an Indigenous-led non-profit organization that hosts Turtle Island’s premier Indigenous Business Pitch Competition for Indigenous entrepreneurs, co-presented in partnership with RBC and Mastercard, announced Danielle Boyer, Anishinaabe Founder and CEO of The STEAM Connection, as the 2026 Pow Wow Pitch Winner and recipient of the Grand Prize of $25,000.

The Grand Finale was hosted by Sunshine Tenasco, Founder of Pow Wow Pitch, and brought together Indigenous entrepreneurs from Nations and communities across Turtle Island to pitch their businesses and share their entrepreneurial journeys.

Following the qualifying Semi-Final round, the top 17 Indigenous entrepreneurs from across Turtle Island went head-to-head pitching their businesses to a panel of judges who evaluated and selected the 2026 Grand Finale winners.

The 2026 Grand Finale Judges included Herb ZoBell, Vice President, Commercial Financial Services at RBC; Mansur Mirani, Vice President, Data Portfolio & Strategic Programs at Mastercard; Kendal Garlow, Co-Founder and CEO of SproutSync Ltd. and the 2025 Pow Wow Pitch First Place Winner; and Dr. Shyra Barberstock, Co-Founder and CEO of Kebaonish Inc. and the 2024 Pow Wow Pitch First Place Winner.

MEET THE WINNERS

The First Place Prize of $25,000 presented by RBC was Danielle Boyer, Founder and CEO of The STEAM Connection, an Anishinaabe entrepreneur and enrolled citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and business based in Troy, Michigan. The STEAM Connection designs, manufactures and distributes robotics and technology resources with a focus on making technology education more accessible for Indigenous youth. Danielle’s work includes SkoBots, wearable robots that combine technology with Indigenous knowledge and language revitalization. Watch Danielle’s pitch. 

“Being a Pow Wow Pitch winner means being able to bring more attention to the importance of language revitalization and making it more accessible to our youth. Our voices deserve to be heard, and platforming ethical technology rooted in data sovereignty means a lot,” shared Danielle Boyer, Founder and CEO of The STEAM Connection.

Danielle plans to use the $25,000 Grand Prize to expand The STEAM Connection’s manufacturing capacity, allowing the organization to produce more robotics resources and get them into the hands of more Indigenous youth and communities. 

Danielle shares this advice for other Indigenous entrepreneurs: “Start with your community and what matters to you. You don’t need a fancy degree, decades of experience, or a perfect plan to begin. Build something that reflects your values, stays true to your teachings and community, and creates meaningful change for your people.”

Danielle expresses her gratitude to Pow Wow Pitch, her grandmother Bernadine Edwards, the language keepers who share their knowledge and voices, and the Indigenous youth who help design and build SkoBots. “This work is only possible because of the communities who trust us to support their language revitalization journeys.”

The Second Place Prize of $10,000, presented by Mastercard, was awarded to Rain Ward, Founder of 2Bear: Indigenous Wellness, from Metepenagiag Mi’qmak Nation and business based in Metepenagiag Mi’qmak Nation, New Brunswick. 2Bear is a Mi’kmaq-owned wellness collective offering holistic wellness, facilitation, workshops, ceremony, traditional food and medicine education, cultural activities and community-based programming. In his pitch, Rain shared that he would create a cultural ceremony space to enhance the mental health landscape in his community and hire a staff member to support operations. Watch Rain’s pitch.

“It means the world that a little guy from the Rez can make a big difference for myself, my Nation, and the country,” shared Rain Ward, Founder of 2Bear: Indigenous Wellness. “The most meaningful part has been the validation that other people can feel the way I feel about 2Bear. All this hard work is building a future for myself and my family, and showing that Indigenous people can make a way for ourselves while staying true to our traditional ways of knowing and being.”

Rain shares this advice for other Indigenous entrepreneurs: “Find the things that make you different and that you love, and be authentic to yourself. Your first product you’re selling is yourself. Show the world what makes you so special and how you can share.”

The Third Place Prize of $5,000, presented by Pow Wow Pitch Alumni Dr. Shyra Barberstock, went to Cole Sanderson, Founder of North Wrestle, from Sturgeon Lake First Nation and business based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. North Wrestle is a Canadian wrestling media platform dedicated to growing the sport, celebrating athletes and creating greater visibility and opportunities for Canada’s wrestling community. Cole plans to use the prize money to grow North Wrestle into a sustainable national platform that tells the stories of Canadian wrestlers and creates opportunities for athletes, coaches, and wrestling communities. The funding will support expanded event coverage, media production, and a national ranking system to help grow the sport and inspire the next generation of Canadian wrestlers. Watch Cole’s pitch.

“I’m very grateful to be a Pow Wow Pitch winner. It took my community, family, and a lot of people believing in me to get here. This win means I get to keep building North Wrestle and share my story and the journey toward increasing visibility for the sport that gave me everything. This is just the beginning. You’re going to hear and see a lot more from me,” shared Cole Sanderson, Founder of North Wrestle.

Cole shares this advice for other Indigenous entrepreneurs: “Entrepreneurship is hard, and I won’t pretend otherwise. The struggles and challenges will keep coming. Your job is to keep moving. Start, even before you feel ready, and keep going when it gets heavy. The fear doesn’t go away; you just learn to move with it.”

The Alumni Choice Prize of $5,000 was presented on behalf of Pow Wow Pitch Alumni by Kendal Garlow, went to Dana Swart, Owner of Trailhead Bread, from the Métis Nation of Alberta and business based in Crowsnest Pass, Alberta. Trailhead Bread is an artisan bakery led by Red Seal Baker Dana Swart, specializing in handcrafted sourdough and baked goods while incorporating local ingredients and regional flavours wherever possible. Dana will use the funds to increase food literacy and purchase equipment to expand retail opportunities beyond wholesale. Watch Dana’s pitch.

“Being selected as a Pow Wow Pitch winner means so much to me. Starting a small business is a lot of work, and having that effort recognized and supported by my community is incredibly meaningful,” shared Dana Swart, Owner of Trailhead Bread. “[These funds] will allow me to invest in the business, grow thoughtfully, and bring my vision to life. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity and for the people who believe in what I’m building.”

“This year’s winners remind us of the incredible diversity, creativity, and vision within Indigenous entrepreneurship,” said Sunshine Tenasco, Founder of Pow Wow Pitch. “From technology and wellness to wrestling and food, each entrepreneur is building something rooted in who they are and where they come from, while creating opportunities for their communities. We are so proud to celebrate Danielle, Rain, Cole, and Dana, and grateful to every finalist who shared their story with us. Miigwetch for bringing your ideas, your culture, and your dreams into this circle. We are honoured to walk alongside you and look forward to seeing where your journeys take you next.”

“Empowering Indigenous entrepreneurship is critical to advancing economic resilience, growth, and reconciliation,” said Brittanee Laverdure, Director, Truth and Reconciliation Office, RBC Origins. “At RBC, we are proud to support Pow Wow Pitch in providing a platform for Indigenous entrepreneurs to generate meaningful impact in their communities across Turtle Island and beyond. Congratulations to this year’s finalists and winners – we’re humbled to witness your growth and celebrate your success.”

“At Mastercard, we’ve been inspired by the innovation, drive, and creativity shown by the Indigenous entrepreneurs who took part in this year’s Pow Wow Pitch,” said Jennifer M. Sloan, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, Policy and Stakeholder Engagement at Mastercard, Canada. “Our partnership with Pow Wow Pitch reflects our shared commitment to expanding economic opportunity and supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs. We’re proud to support their journeys and to celebrate their accomplishments. Congratulations to all the pitchers, and a special congratulations to Danielle, Rain, Cole, and Dana on winning the 2026 Pow Wow Pitch!”

To watch the Grand Finale, click here.

To schedule an interview with Pow Wow Pitch Founder, Sunshine Tenasco, Executive Director, Naomi Sarazin, or one of our winners, Danielle, Rain, Cole or Dana, please contact hello@powwowpitch.org.

About Pow Wow Pitch

Pow Wow Pitch is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting and funding early-stage Indigenous entrepreneurs across Turtle Island, with the co-presenting support of Mastercard and RBC. Our vision is to create a world where Indigenous entrepreneurs thrive, feeling supported, safe, and encouraged to develop their ideas and build businesses that create a positive cycle of growth. With a mission to provide resources and mentorship, we empower Indigenous entrepreneurs while amplifying their stories to inspire future generations and foster a more inclusive world.

For more information, visit powwowpitch.org.

About RBC

Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 105,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada’s biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our more than 19 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.‎

We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/peopleandplanet.

About Mastercard (NYSE: MA)

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a resilient economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Helena Wade, Manager, Communications

Mastercard

helena.wade@mastercard.com

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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 3, 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 Dana Swart, Métis Nation of Alberta Owner of Trailhead Bread, a business based in Crowsnest Pass, Alberta, as the 2026 Pow Wow Pitch Food & Drink Semi-Final Winner. Dana 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. Seven Food & Drink Semi-Finalists had the opportunity to pitch their businesses in one-minute for their chance to win an industry prize and a spot in the finals.

Judges included Katelyn Lawson, Senior Relationship Manager at RBC; Divine Favour Nwagu, Manager, Risk Management at Mastercard; Steve Dominey, Senior Content & Communications Manager at CIRA; and Shannon Fisher, Global Partnership Director at EDC.

“I was surprised and delighted. I know I was in a cohort with incredibly talented entrepreneurs, so I’m honoured to have been selected as the winner in my category,” said Dana Swart, Owner of Trailhead Bread. “I’m especially excited about bringing more community events into the bakery. In the new year, I’ll be hosting cooking classes and teaching people in my community how to bake bread.”

Dana Swart, Owner of Trailhead Bread, is a Red Seal Baker and graduate of Baking and Pastry Arts who has spent years working in professional kitchens and sourdough bakeries. Based in Crowsnest Pass, Trailhead Bread specializes in handcrafted organic sourdough and celebration cakes, incorporating Alberta-grown flour, local ingredients, and regional flavours wherever possible. Dana is now taking the next step in the business by opening a dedicated bakery space and expanding Trailhead Bread into additional retail locations.

In her pitch, Dana shared that winning the $25,000 Grand Prize would help her grow Trailhead Bread while creating more opportunities to bring people together through food. She plans to hire additional help and host community events, while also exploring the opportunity to grow produce in the neighbouring garden for use in the bakery.

“I’ve learned to accept help and become more comfortable asking for it. It’s easy to feel like you need to do everything yourself when you’re building a business, but it’s incredibly hard to actually do everything alone. I’m so grateful for the friends and family who continue to show up and help me along the way” shared Dana Swart, Owner of Trailhead Bread.

The judges commended Dana for a confident and engaging pitch that clearly communicated both her passion for baking and her vision for Trailhead Bread. They were impressed by the growth she has already achieved, her focus on high-quality local ingredients, and the clear opportunity she sees to expand the business while continuing to serve her community.

“Congratulations to Dana Swart on advancing to the 2026 Pow Wow Pitch Grand Finale,” said Naomi Sarazin, Executive Director of Pow Wow Pitch. “Dana has taken her years of experience and love of baking and turned them into a business that feels deeply connected to the place she calls home. We are thrilled to see Dana take this next step and continue growing Trailhead Bread.”

Alongside selecting a winner, the judges also acknowledged the Runner Up for the Food & Drink industry category. Nastassia Hansen, Founder and Owner of Oak & Olive Charcuterie, was recognized for the experience, creativity, and attention to detail she has brought to building her Yellowknife-based business. The judges appreciated her polished presentation, strong understanding of her customers, and vision for continuing to grow Oak & Olive Charcuterie.

“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 Dana Swart for advancing to the next round.”

To watch Dana’s winning pitch, click here. To watch the Food & Drink Semi-Final episode, click here.

Dana Swart 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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