As part of Aritzia’s commitment to participating in acts of reconciliation, both within its organization and with Indigenous communities across Canada, the Everyday Luxury retailer has partnered with Pow Wow Pitch for its fourth year to support Indigenous fashion entrepreneurs and businesses. 

Pow Wow Pitch and Aritzia’s partnership began in 2022 and introduced the Fashion Category to the competition along with the Aritizia Indigenous Fashion Grants, supporting and empowering 6 fashion entrepreneurs with extra cash each year. New to the 2025 Pow Wow Pitch Competition, Aritzia is now expanding their support beyond the Fashion Category by awarding Aritzia Grants to Indigenous women and two-spirit entrepreneurs that advance to the Grand Finale across all industry categories.

This expansion reflects Aritzia’s deepening commitment to advancing equity, representation, and opportunity for Indigenous entrepreneurs across diverse sectors. By offering the Aritzia Grant to Grand Finale finalists beyond the fashion category, Aritzia and Pow Wow Pitch are together recognizing the leadership, resilience, and innovation of Indigenous women and two-spirit founders in every corner of the business world. These grants will help entrepreneurs scale their ventures, share their stories, and thrive on their own terms.

Together, Aritzia and Pow Wow Pitch are fostering creative, cultural, and economic empowerment to uplift and celebrate Indigenous entrepreneurs.

“Our partnership with Pow Wow Pitch continues to grow in exciting and meaningful ways,” said Corinne Kepper, Vice President of Corporate Giving at Aritzia. “What began with the Aritzia Indigenous Fashion Grants has now evolved into a broader commitment to champion Indigenous women and two-spirit entrepreneurs across all industries. We’re proud to expand our support through the Aritzia Grant, offering both funding and mentorship to help these visionary founders thrive, scale their businesses, and drive lasting impact in their communities.”

“We’re incredibly grateful to Aritzia for growing their support of Indigenous entrepreneurs in such a meaningful way,” said Naomi Sarazin, Executive Director of Pow Wow Pitch. “What began as a shared commitment to uplifting Indigenous fashion has grown into a powerful, cross-sector investment in Indigenous women and two-spirit entrepreneurs across Turtle Island. Through the Aritzia Grant, we’re not only scaling impact, we’re reinforcing a future where Indigenous businesses are recognized, resourced, and thriving in every industry.”

By partnering with Pow Wow Pitch, Aritzia is working collaboratively to strengthen and grow the community of support for Indigenous entrepreneurship, creating greater impact together. 

About Pow Wow Pitch 

Pow Wow Pitch is a program for emerging Indigenous entrepreneurs, which provides a safe, supportive, collaborative, empowering and culturally supportive environment that addresses the unique challenges of Indigenous entrepreneurship. Pow Wow Pitch enhances, develops and accelerates the growth of current and aspiring Indigenous entrepreneurs in a sustainable way through programs and resources. Community leadership through volunteerism is promoted as a reflection of respect and reciprocity as the foundation of the Pow Wow Pitch.

For more information, visit powwowpitch.org.

About Aritzia

Aritzia is a design house with an innovative global platform. Creators and purveyors of Everyday Luxury, Aritzia is home to an extensive portfolio of exclusive brands for every function and individual aesthetic. 

Founded in 1984 in Vancouver, Canada, Aritzia prides itself on creating immersive, highly personalized shopping experiences at aritzia.com and in its 115+ boutiques throughout North America — for everyone, everywhere.

About Aritzia Community™ Giving

Aritzia is committed to giving – to elevate the communities in which their People live and work. With a focus on building meaningful relationships with community partners and engaging their People in giving back, Aritzia cares for and invests in their communities by driving positive change, particularly for women and girls, with a focus on our favourite equation-turned mantra — Women to the Power of Women™.

Visit aritzia.com to learn more.

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Today, Pow Wow Pitch, North America’s premier pitch competition and non-profit organization supporting emerging Indigenous entrepreneurs, announced a partnership with the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH), led by Ryerson’s Diversity Institute, for its 2022 Pow Wow Pitch Program. 

Set to support more than 2,500 Indigenous entrepreneurs in 2022 with mentorship, funding, training, marketing and a safe and trusted community of support, this new partnership will support Pow Wow Pitch to scale its virtual programs, re-enter communities with on-the-ground support across Canada and scale its programming to support Indigenous entrepreneurs. 

This year, WEKH will support Pow Wow Pitch as a Seed-Level supporter. It will share opportunities for Indigenous women through the broader ecosystem and directly support the program by providing mentors to those participating in the program.

WEKH’s National Indigenous Hub (WEKH Indigenous) is located on Treaty 1 Territory and works with organizations from coast to coast, influencing and advancing Indigenous women’s entrepreneurship. 

Since 2020, WEKH Indigenous has reached over 4,000 participants at engagement events, workshops and meetings across the country and works regularly with a network of national Indigenous programs and organizations to advance knowledge about the barriers and the potential of Indigenous women entrepreneurs. 

Historically, there has been a lack of data about Indigenous women entrepreneurs. WEKH and its network of Indigenous partners have produced several reports, including Mikwam Makwa Ikwe (Ice Bear Woman): A National Needs Analysis on Indigenous Women’s Entrepreneurship.

“We are proud to be launching a new partnership with the Women Entrepreneurs Knowlege Hub as we look to surround our Pow Wow Pitch entrepreneurs with an ecosystem of support as they start and grow their businesses,” said Sunshine Tenasco, Founder of Pow Wow Pitch. “Through this partnership, we hope to celebrate the intersectionality of identity, highlight the  unique challenges Indigenous women confront along the entrepreneurial journey and work with the WEKH and its ecosystem partners to create a better environment and support for Indigenous women entrepreneurs.”

“WEKH is proud to partner with the Pow Wow Pitch, a one-of-a-kind opportunity for Indigenous entrepreneurs,” said Ashley Richard, Associate Director, Indigenous – Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub. “Through this partnership, we will advance Indigenous women’s entrepreneurship and co-create new opportunities for Indigenous communities. Together, we are working towards building more inclusive innovation.”

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