As a student with the Asper School of Business’ Indigenous Business Education Partners (IBEP) and the president of the University of Manitoba Indigenous Commerce Students Association, he was admittedly a bit lost before discovering the program.

Perrie knew he wanted to be in business. After finishing high school, though, he avoided business school, joking that he thought it was “a scam.”

But as he started to come around to the idea, he discovered the IBEP program at the Asper School of Business, and let his guard down knowing he would have a supportive community of peers with him every step of the way.

“Without the IBEP program, I probably wouldn’t be here right now,” he said. “It isn’t just a program that provides students with a lounge and tuition assistance, it’s the reason a lot of us Indigenous students show up everyday because we know we’ll be supported and that we have a community cheering us on.”

The community really came together at VIBE. The 19th annual celebration was the biggest VIBE yet, with a fundraising record and 305 in attendance to celebrate Indigenous business owners and the next generation of students currently at the Asper School of Business.

Award Recipients

E. Oliver Owen and Cody Gonsalves [BComm(Hons.)/15] were presented with beautiful, elaborate and custom awards handmade by the Winnipeg-based Indigenous carver Fredrick Spence. Owen’s featured a plane with a spinning propellor, representing his business Amik Aviation; Gonsalves’ was a kettlebell with a handle of antlers for his personal training business, Purposeful Movements.

Owen’s speech tracked his journey from young dreamer to an accomplished pilot and business owner.

Originally from Paunigassi, he arrived at the St. Andrews airport in March 1978 to obtain a pilot’s license with $1300 to his name.

“I asked how much for a license, and the guy, the owner, said $1300. I went, ‘how do you know I have $1300?’” he said to a big laugh at the reception.

Despite money trouble when he was training for his license, and dealing with systemic racism as he attempted to start Amik Aviation, Oliver still has his humor and some impressive statistics to his name. He has logged 25,000 flying hours over 43 years, and Amik Aviation, which started with Owen and a single plane, now has nine planes and 42 employees.

Gonsalves, himself a former IBEP student at the Asper School, shared how he transformed himself through exercise, and found a calling in how he could guide people to do the same.

“There’s so much noise about the way you’re supposed to live your life and our whole focus is to help people understand how you can [live healthy] long term and sustainably.” He said.

Purposeful Movements has grown impressively since 2020, transforming from one-on-one personal training to a multifaceted business offering group classes, nutrition coaching and more.

Beyond physical exercise, Gonsalves also encourages his participants to be mindful and mentally strong. To cap off his speech, Gonsalves led the room in a breathing exercise, encouraging attendees to find peace between four second inhales and exhales.

Cody Gonsalves and E. Oliver Owen

Giving Back to the Community

100% of proceeds from the VIBE awards go to IBEP students through scholarships, bursaries, academic supports, and more.

Under the leadership of IBEP Director Riley Proulx [BComm(Hons)/19], there are currently 76 students enrolled with IBEP, the most there’s ever been at any one time.

“It’s clear that the Manitoba business community wants to see me succeed,” Gabe Perrie said about VIBE’s record-breaking attendance. “The VIBE awards give Indigenous students more opportunities and avenues to succeed as they complete their BComm degree.”

Perrie came away from VIBE feeling inspired and ready for what comes next: “I’m excited to make my impact and leave a legacy like they have.”
—
For 31 years, Indigenous Business Education Partners at the Asper School of Business has offered a welcoming community to First Nations, Metis and Inuit students exploring leadership potential in the world of business. IBEP members can receive tutoring, mentoring, financial aid and more. Learn more.

VIBE is hosted by Indigenous Business Education Partners (IBEP). Located within the Drake Centre, this unit of Asper School of Business supports Indigenous business students as they develop the vision, grit and passion needed to become business leaders of tomorrow.

This year’s VIBE Awards take place November 6, 2025. The two recipients are Cody Gonsalves of Purposeful Movements Ltd. and E. Oliver Owen of Amik Aviation.

The two recipients of this year’s awards tell stories of entrepreneurs who lived through the issues that their businesses solve. They both lead by example, consistently going out of their way to provide the best possible experience for their clients while keeping community at the forefront of decisions.

“In Cody and Oliver’s stories, they followed their personal passions and ended up quickly becoming a staple presence in their respective community circles,” says IBEP Director Riley Proulx [BComm(Hons)/19]. “By staying true to themselves and leading by example, both provide valuable and essential services to Indigenous communities across Manitoba.”

2025 VIBE Award Winner – Purposeful Movements Ltd. (Cody Gonsalves)

Cody Gonsalves used to be a boxer. When he first started, he would move around the ring constantly, trying to fake out his opponent and get the upper hand.

That was, until his coach told him: “Cody, you need to stop wasting energy and move with purpose.”

Cody’s company, Purposeful Movements Ltd., is the full manifestation of his story. He hopes to empower Indigenous individuals to prioritize their physical, mental, and emotional well-being through exercise. To help people connect back to themselves and reclaim their health, just as he once did.

Of Cree ancestry from Red Pheasant First Nation, Gonsalves struggled on and off over 15 years with “using external solutions such as drugs, alcohol and takeout.” His internal solution was movement: he boxed and got a job as a personal trainer, which showed him focus, discipline, and how to impart those qualities to others. To Cody, movement is medicine.

Along the way, he completed his BComm (Hons) in Entrepreneurship and Marketing, graduating in 2015. His participation in the Indigenous Business Education Partners (IBEP) gave him a strong foundation of mentorship, cultural connection, and entrepreneurial instinct that paved the way for his company’s values.

Purposeful Movements Ltd. works in and together with Indigenous communities, providing in-person and virtual lessons, one-on-one sessions and group classes, to youth and elders alike.

They created an innovative Wellness Ambassador Program, training and mentoring locals to be role models for their community. In May 2025, Purposeful Movements Ltd. collaborated with Indigenous organizations AMC, SCO, MKO & NCN to organize and operate the first Movement is Medicine 5K Walk/Run, which gathered over 200 participants.

Cody’s vision with Purposeful Movements Ltd. is to positively change Indigenous communities by creating strong, resilient individuals that will have a ripple effect across generations.

With every challenge they encounter, Purposeful Movements Ltd. continues to grow while meeting people where they’re at.

2025 VIBE Award Winner – Amik Aviation Ltd. (E. Oliver Owen)

When E. Oliver Owen was growing up, air travel to and from Indigenous communities in Manitoba was difficult, to say the least.

Owen’s hometown community, Pauingassi didn’t have an airport. If you needed a plane, you had to travel more than 40 minutes by boat over mini-rapids, then organize a ground transportation to get yourself the last half-mile to the landing strip. At best, this is a challenge, at worst (in the case of a medical emergency) it’s a nightmare.

Planes were essential for supplies, travel, and medical assistance, but they weren’t readily accessible or affordable. So Owen, who was fascinated with aviation his whole life, set out to change that.

He created Amik Aviation with the simple goal of making air travel more convenient for Indigenous communities.

It wasn’t long before he amassed a network of solutions: he located Amik in St. Andrews Airport, 20 minutes north of Winnipeg; built docks to make landing easy in certain communities; and expanded his operations to Little Grand Rapids, Pauingassi, Bloodvein, Berens River and Poplar River.

He was awarded the prestigious Pioneer of Flight award by the Manitoba Aviation Council in 2019 for his specific innovation in using the quiet and fuel-efficient Cessna 208—usually used for utility transport—for passenger services. He was the first person to do it.

With a fleet of six planes and close to 20 employees, many of whom speak Ojibwe or other Indigenous languages, Amik Aviation shows no sign of slowing down.

Though Owen has been the cause of seismic change in this area, the little things count just as much. Even the transportation of envelopes used to be tough. Some couriers would charge up to $25 to ship to Winnipeg. Give an envelope to Owen, and he’ll gladly get it there.

The fee? No charge. 

Investing in future Indigenous business leaders

IBEP Director Riley Proulx knows that students will come away from the VIBE Awards with more than they came in with.

“VIBE is a moment where we can reflect on the people who, through their drive, thoughtfulness, and community-involved leadership, inspire us to keep striving for greatness. Our guests are always thrilled to attend and learn about our recipients because they have stories that come from the heart. And for the students, our recipients are reminders that they too can achieve success in business while staying grounded to their communities.”

The VIBE awards directly benefit Indigenous students at Asper. Each year, 100% of event proceeds benefit IBEP students through scholarships, bursaries, academic supports, and more.

___

IBEP offers tutoring, mentoring, financial aid, and more to Indigenous students pursuing a business degree at the Asper School of Business. The annual VIBE Awards Gala is IBEP’s largest fundraising event for these services. Learn more about the 2025 VIBE Awards here.

Now in its 10th year, AACSB’s Influential Leaders member spotlight program highlights the value that business schools bring to business and society. All honorees from this year’s class have a degree from one of AACSB’s more than 1,000 accredited business schools worldwide.

Leaders in the 2025 class have used their entrepreneurial skills to not only realize their business dreams but foster economic growth in their communities, generate new value for existing organizations, and leverage innovative thinking to solve societal challenges.

“Kathleen is an incredible entrepreneur and visionary leader transforming the social and economic landscape here in Manitoba. As an alum, she has displayed generosity in her contributions to our students, speaking about MBA info sessions and supporting experiential learning here at Asper. This is a well-deserved honour, and we are proud to congratulate Kathleen,” said Bruno Silvestre, Dean of the Asper School of Business.

BlueSky is currently CEO at Treaty One Development Corporation, the organization leading the development of Naawi-Oodena, the largest urban reserve in Canada. She has worked with First Nations her entire career, serving in high-level positions at the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and Nisichawayashik Cree Nation. Today, in addition to her role at Treaty One Development Corporation, she is CEO of her own practice, Seven Feathers Consulting, and co-founder of Wiijii’idiwag Ikwewag, a First Nations birthing support service.

“Kathleen BlueSky’s work demonstrates how business schools can fuel solution-minded leaders to create new business ventures and solve complex challenges,” said Lily Bi, AACSB president and CEO. “Through entrepreneurial approaches and visionary thinking, Kathleen BlueSky is creating meaningful change in the world.”

Learn about the unique stories of each honoree at AACSB’s Influential Leaders page, and read more about Kathleen BlueSky’s MBA experience and entrepreneurial journey.

—

The Asper School of Business has proudly been accredited by AACSB since 1999, the second-ever Canadian business school to earn this significant recognition.

AACSB International (AACSB) is the world’s largest business education association, connecting business schools, business, and lifelong learners to create the next generation of great leaders. With members in over 100 countries and territories, AACSB elevates the quality and impact of business schools globally.

Continuing its tradition, 100% of the evening’s proceeds will directly support IBEP students—future Indigenous business leaders—through scholarships, bursaries, academic assistance, and educational opportunities.

Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic students with Riley Proulx (Director of IBEP) at the 2024 VIBE Awards from far left: Connor Giesbrecht (3L) [BA/2022], Jordan Wagner (3L) [BComm(Hons)/2022], Riley Proulx [BComm(Hons)/2019], Ravi Balchan (3L) [BComm (Hon)/2021], Jeremy Tran (3L) [BSc/2022], Mathew O’Connor (3L)[BA(Hons)/2018], and Emily Palmer (3L) [BA)/2019] (Moira Kennedy (3L) [BA/2021] not pictured).

Award Recipients

The event honoured renowned creatives Emilie McKinney, founder of Anishinaabe Bimishimo, and Shaun Vincent, founder of Vincent Design Inc., for their entrepreneurial excellence and contributions to Indigenous business. To celebrate their achievements, each recipient was awarded a beautiful, customized sculpture that symbolizes their unique entrepreneurial impact.

2024 VIBE Award Recipients, left to right: Emilie McKinney, and Shaun Vincent.

At just 16 years old, Emilie McKinney of Swan Lake First Nation, founded Anishinaabe Bimishimo Corporation, specializing in producing traditional jingle cones. Over time, she expanded her business internationally and broadened her offerings to include clothing and sparkle ribbons, demonstrating her entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to preserving Indigenous traditions while fostering economic independence. During her remarks, Emilie expressed deep gratitude for her family and community, who supported her vision and emphasized the importance of creating opportunities for future generations.

Shaun Vincent, founder of Vincent Design Inc., an artist, graphic designer and entrepreneur who grew up in the Métis community of St. Laurent, began his journey in 2007 after earning an Advanced Diploma from Red River College Polytechnic. Shaun identified a need for representational design and created a branding and marketing firm focused on advancing Indigenous communities, organizations, and businesses through thoughtful storytelling rooted in tradition. Today, Vincent Design Inc. is a team of 19 renowned for its work, including the creation of the Survivors’ Flag, introduced during the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in 2021. Shaun’s Two-Eyed Seeing approach—bridging Indigenous understanding with Western design practices—defines his work and continues to inspire others. Additionally, Vincent Design awards up to two scholarships each semester to Indigenous Youth pursuing college or university studies in graphic design and related programs in Canada.

Celebrating 30 Years of Asper’s Indigenous Business Education Partners Program

The evening was also an opportunity to celebrate IBEP’s 30th anniversary. A commemorative video shared during the event featured testimonials from alums and students who spoke about the profound impact IBEP has had on their lives. Many shared personal stories of overcoming barriers, finding belonging, and gaining the confidence to succeed.

Image from commemorative video.

Ashley Richard [BComm(Hons)/2017], an IBEP alum and 2017 graduate of the BComm (Hons) program and current Director of Indigenous Entrepreneurship at United College – University of Waterloo, reflected on her experience, explaining that IBEP profoundly changed her life. She shared how the program provided her with a sense of belonging and the tools to give back to others. She emphasized the value of the scholarships, mentorship, and opportunities IBEP offers, describing them as invaluable.

Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic and Fostering Indigenous Entrepreneurship

The L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic marked a milestone of its own, celebrating 10 years of supporting entrepreneurs. In just a decade, the Clinic has provided over 10,000 pro bono hours of legal support, with a 37% BIPOC client base. Notably, the most recent monthly demographic data showed that nearly 25% of the Clinic’s client base for that month self-identified as Indigenous.

The Clinic’s work, combined with its students’ active engagement, highlights its ongoing mission to support Indigenous entrepreneurs and contribute to reconciliation through respect, recognition, and ongoing collaborations.

This commitment was exemplified at this year’s VIBE Awards, where third-year law students Emily Palmer (3L) [BA/2019] and Ravi Balchan (3L) [BComm (Hon)/2021] were chosen to represent the clinic in the Grand Entry, led by Elder Carl Stone [BA]. Emily, who has attended the VIBE Awards for three consecutive years while attending UM Law, reflected on the event’s unique impact: “It’s inspiring to see a room filled with a diverse network of supporters, funders, students, entrepreneurs, and businesses all promoting the Indigenous business community in Manitoba. Every year, I’m reminded of the power of connection and the results that come from uplifting commerce communities in our province.“

For Ravi, the experience was equally powerful: “Taking part in the Grand Entry, I could feel the optimism, dedication, and entrepreneurial spirit in the room. Hearing stories of Indigenous business excellence made me incredibly proud and inspired by my community.“

A Legacy of Support and Connection

The event concluded with a prayer from Elder Norman Meade, who emphasized the importance of community. His words resonated with the evening’s theme of collective action and support.

As the 18th Annual VIBE Awards came to a close, it was clear that the legacy of IBEP and the achievements of Indigenous entrepreneurs like Emilie McKinney and Shaun Vincent continue to inspire.

The L. Kerry Vickar Business Law Clinic strives to carry forward this inspiration by supporting and assisting Indigenous entrepreneurs in their journey. Clinic students look forward to attending the VIBE Awards gala again next year to celebrate even more stories of Indigenous business excellence; and thank the Desautels Centre for Private Enterprise and Law for supporting the law students’ attendance this year during Entrepreneurship and Innovative Thinking Month at the University of Manitoba.

Marsii! Hiy Hiy! Miigwetch!

“To me what speaks volumes about these two recipients is how they stepped up to the plate when they saw a need in their communities,” said Riley Proulx, director of Indigenous Business Education Partners, the department at the University of Manitoba that presents the awards.

Vincent, who grew up in the Métis community of St. Laurent, started his company in 2007, after recognizing the need for representational design.

Today, his branding and marketing firm employs close to 40 people. The company focuses on promoting Indigenous communities, organizations and companies.

To read the entire story, please visit the link here with the Winnipeg Free Press.

VIBE is hosted by Indigenous Business Education Partners (IBEP), a unit at the Asper School of Business dedicated to offering a welcoming community and academic services to Indigenous students as they explore their leadership potential in the world of business.

The 2024 VIBE Awards are on November 14, 2024, celebrating this year’s recipients: Emilie McKinney, founder of Anishinaabe Bimishimo, and Shaun Vincent, founder of Vincent Design Inc.

This prestigious annual event combines celebration, networking, and philanthropy and will highlight the incredible contributions of VIBE Award recipients McKinney and Vincent, who have each led with ingenuity, passion and a vision that goes far beyond their respective industries. Says IBEP director Riley Proulx [BComm(Hons)/19],

“everyone can find inspiration from the stories of resilience, courage and dedication of our award recipients.”

2024 VIBE Award Winner – Anishinaabe Bimishimo

2024 VIBE Award recipient Emilie McKinney

Emilie McKinney’s entrepreneurial journey began when she learned that her go-to jingle cone supplier in Swan Lake First Nation no longer offered jingles, the ornamental metal cones sewn into traditional jingle dresses.

Alongside her mother, Natalie Foidart, McKinney founded Anishinaabe Bimishimo in 2017, which has since grown into North America’s largest jingle cone manufacturing company.

With over one hundred retailers across the continent, Anishinaabe Bimishimo has thrived thanks to the care that McKinney brings to her work—hand-rolling jingles in the brand’s early days, securing custom machinery to meet demand and working with steel and paint manufacturers to produce unique, high-quality jingles in Manitoba.

McKinney has written about how the jingle dress represents healing. “The jingle cones are meant to hit each other to awaken the creator so that prayers and healing can be heard,” she wrote in 2019. She has developed special coloured cones that promote awareness and community healing, creating red cones in honour of MMIWG2S and turquoise cones to recognize the impacts of intergenerational trauma in Indigenous communities.

McKinney is also a member of the Southern Chiefs’ Organization Youth Council, working to promote awareness about water treatment and water-related issues in Manitoba. In addition to the 2024 VIBE Award, McKinney is the recipient of the 2018 Youth Entrepreneur of the Year by Start Up Canada, 2022 Top 6 Bear’s Lair Business Pitch Competition on APTN and the 2024 NACCA Youth Entrepreneur Award of Excellence.

2024 VIBE Award Winner – Vincent Design Inc.

2024 VIBE Award recipient Shaun Vincent

Founder of Vincent Design Inc., Shaun Vincent is an artist, graphic designer and entrepreneur who grew up in the Métis community of St. Laurent.

Working in the design industry, Vincent saw the need for representational design and struck out on his own to build a branding and marketing firm focused on promoting Indigenous communities, organizations, and companies. Today, Vincent Design Inc. has grown to a team of close to 40, serving clients from Manitoba to California.

Vincent has designed hundreds of logos, specializing in those that require a deep understanding and sensitivity to the people and stories they represent, including the Survivors’ Flag, a design created for the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation in honour of residential school Survivors. The Flag was introduced during the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation federal holiday in 2021 and raised at Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

He has worked with organizations across Canada, including the Southern Chiefs’ Organization on branding and marketing around their acquisition of the historical, flagship Hudson Bay Building, branding and web presence and for Indspire, and branding and layout for Canadian Geography on the Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada.

As an entrepreneur and business leader, Vincent also invests in a future where more Indigenous artists and designers can pursue their dreams. The Vincent Design Scholarship Program awards up to two scholarships each semester to Indigenous youth pursuing college or university studies in graphic design and fine arts in Canada.

Investing in future Indigenous business leaders

IBEP Director Riley Proulx emphasizes the unmatched student experience of the VIBE Awards.

IBEP Director Riley Proulx

“Every year, we hear from our students how much they look forward to attending the next VIBE Awards. Our students notice the organizations and leaders who back up their commitments to Reconciliation by supporting Indigenous programs like IBEP, and these are often the first places our students look when considering career opportunities,” he says.

More than an opportunity to inspire future business leaders and connect Asper School of Business students with the business community, the VIBE Awards also directly benefit Indigenous students pursuing business at Asper. Each year, 100% of event proceeds go toward scholarships, bursaries, academic support, and more for IBEP members.

—

IBEP offers tutoring, mentoring, financial aid, and more to Indigenous students pursuing a business degree at the Asper School of Business. The annual VIBE Awards Gala is IBEP’s largest fundraising event for these services Learn more about 2024 VIBE Awards sponsorship opportunities and IBEP’s services for Indigenous business students here.

The faculty of management had secured a year of funding for a project to support Indigenous students coming into the business school. Mackness and Gray wanted Wuttunee to lead it.

Wuttunee, who had been working in the emerging field of Indigenous economic development, was a faculty member in the department of Native studies at UM (today, called the department of Indigenous studies), and immediately saw the value and the boldness of the idea.

Doing what hadn’t been done

“A business education is lovely to have no matter what your career is. It was really cool that I could have this opportunity to support students in considering business, which can bring so many career opportunities and directions,” says Wuttunee.

“But the fact that Dr. Mackness and Dr. Grey had that vision back then was amazing to me, because it just wasn’t something that was being done.”

Wuttunee refers here not just to the concept of holistic support for Indigenous students pursuing business, but also to Indigenous economic development broadly. While she cites a small, passionate community of scholars and leaders pursuing this work, the idea that would become Indigenous Business Education Partners (IBEP) was ahead of the curve in the 1990s.

The program, first named Aboriginal Business Education Program (ABEP), launched with Wuttunee at the helm and program coordinator Roxane Shuttleworth managing day-to-day student services.

Moving between various corners of the Drake Centre—open study areas and small offices to the dedicated IBEP student lounge today—a program that predates the naming of the School itself had started in earnest: feting four graduates at its first dedicated graduation ceremony, building connections with faculty members and garnering the support of Manitoba’s business community.

Opening the door wider

While Wuttunee emphasizes that the very fact that the faculty had a program like this was remarkable, she also shares her pride in how they ran and structured the program.

“A personal milestone for me, when I think back on my time as program director, is that there wasn’t a double standard. We opened the door wider, but once students were in, they put in the work and completed their bachelor of commerce with honours,” she says.

“They earned it,” she says, referencing IBEP alumni over the years. “Blood, sweat, and tears like everybody else.”

Wuttunee believed in the value of IBEP and the BComm degree itself, insistent that a support program shouldn’t change the value of the degree but should instead make that value more accessible to those who face barriers.

This approach opened the door wider for students and the School, as the program then took on the name Aboriginal Business Education Partners, emphasizing the connections it was creating between students, academics, and faculties at UM.

The program partnered with the Engineering Access Program (ENGAP) to support students with the pre-management math requirements, a connection that is going strong today.

“When we went from Aboriginal Business Education Program to Partners, it really captured a wonderful dynamic for students and for me as director. More faculty members stepped up and asked how they could get involved,” she says.

Pounding the pavement

In 2004, ten years into the program’s run, funding started to dry up, barely covering staff salaries at the time. Wuttunee knew that to keep the program going, they would need to tap into the support of the business community.

Thus came the Excellence in Aboriginal Business Leadership Awards (EABLA), an event that would honour incredible business entrepreneurs while raising funds to support programming, which had by that point expanded to include dedicated scholarships.

Two decades later, the Visionary Indigenous Business Excellence (VIBE) Awards ceremony is still IBEP’s most important annual fundraising event. Funds from the event come from corporate sponsors, who first got on board thanks to Wuttunee’s conviction that organizations would benefit from supporting the program.

“The corporate sponsorships came from me going out and pounding the pavement, selling our program—people got it. These organizations could see the market and its potential, and I could explain how investing in the success of Indigenous students—graduates who might come work for them one day—made a lot of sense.

“They were investing not in future employees—accountants, marketers, auditors—but in the possibility of Indigenous students seeing business as a career,” she says.

Investing in possibility

For Wuttunee–whose career is marked with more firsts and milestones than many, including being named one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women in 2011 by Women’s Executive Network–being part of a program that has encouraged nearly 200 Indigenous students to see business as a potential career path stands out among her many achievements.

“When I look at lists of our graduates and where they have ended up, it is so awesome. There are alumni in careers that have impacted the corporate world and their own communities. There are role models, incredible journeys and great stories,” she says.

“That is amazing to me because many of these alumni started as students who didn’t see business as an opportunity, but here they are today, contributing something wonderful.”

Today IBEP alumni and students lead in sectors across the province.

MBA alum Kathleen BlueSky currently serves as CEO of Treaty One Development Corporation; BComm alum Fabian Sanderson is CEO of First Peoples Economic Growth Fund; BComm alum Ashley Richard was recently appointed as director of Indigenous Entrepreneurship at United College (University of Waterloo); and BComm student Matthew Carriere balances studies with his role on the board of directors of the Indigenous Chamber of Commerce.

Doing what hasn’t been done yet

Wuttunee served as director of IBEP for 20 years, stepping back from the role in 2014 before beginning a well-earned retirement from UM in 2021.  

“It was not an easy walk, but with my faith to see me through, it was a most gratifying part of my career,” she says.

“After 20 years, it was not a hard decision to lay down those responsibilities because the program was solid, my staff had a strong vision, and I knew that I was not irreplaceable.”

Peter Pomart [MBA/18] took over as the next director, starting a curious, but not entirely surprising, tradition of Asper School of Business and IBEP alumni returning to the program that served them, with Zach Unrau [BComm(Hons)17] and Riley Proulx [BComm(Hons)/19] each serving as director since.

Reflecting on IBEP’s 30^th anniversary, Wuttunee returns to what made that first meeting, that original funding proposal, so remarkable.

“The anniversary is a chance to celebrate that original vision and approach of simply trying something and seeing what might happen. It’s a celebration of the trailblazing that the Asper School of Business did with this. It’s an opportunity to understand the incredible role that the School played—because IBEP could have faded away; it could have died, and we wouldn’t be celebrating.

“It needed everyone to come together, key players along the way who saw that value and were bold in their support. I hope that part of IBEP’s legacy going forward can continue to be thinking beyond the status quo.”

IBEP began with people who dared to think beyond the status quo. It was sustained by the dedication of passionate individuals who saw the value, and knew how to show the value, of investing in the success of Indigenous students. It has created connections, community and impact that extend far beyond classrooms and degrees.

Wanda Wuttunee may not have been irreplaceable as director, but the story of IBEP would not be what it is without her.

—

For 30 years, Indigenous Business Education Partners at the Asper School of Business has offered a welcoming community to First Nations, Metis and Inuit students exploring leadership potential in the world of business. IBEP members can receive tutoring, mentoring, financial aid and more. Learn more.

Instructor and newly appointed director of Indigenous business relations, Katherine Davis [MBA/20] has spent the last 10 years working in cross-cultural settings building relationships with First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities. She is the first Métis faculty member at the Asper School of Business as well as an alum of the Asper MBA and President’s Student Leadership Program.

Davis was appointed director of Indigenous business relations at the Asper School of Business effective July 1, 2024.

Her journey into teaching and leadership began with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Calls to Action.

What drew you to this instructor role at the Asper School of Business?

“When the TRC Calls to Action were published in 2015, I really felt that drive to act and pursue a career where I could advance Reconciliation—work that would go far beyond my lifetime.

“I began to think about the skills I would need to work with organizations and make change, which is what led to me pursuing the Asper MBA. I came out of that seeing that there were faculty members and students who cared deeply about the same things I did and finding community through IBEP and other leaders in the MBA program.

“I have worked with IBEP at the Asper School of Business, in change management and in consulting to advance Truth & Reconciliation. During one of my consulting contracts, I completed a scan of educational programming across Canada and saw that there was a lack of depth in education about Indigenous matters, especially in business.

“I realized that I needed to teach in order to create the next level of awareness. I felt I could really make an impact through teaching.”

In 2023, as part of the new BComm curriculum, Davis designed and launched a core course on Indigenous peoples and Canadian business that will continue into the next academic year. She hopes that by providing more engaged education on Indigenous business relations, Asper students can graduate ready to ask more in-depth questions about pressing issues no matter where they work.

—

How did you approach this course? How do you see your role as an educator?

“It has been amazing to create something so interdisciplinary in nature. Designing the course allowed me to be creative while also listening to many people in community.

“As an educator, I really believe that my role is to get people to start understanding who they are in relationship to the thing that they’re learning about. I love seeing that moment when the light bulb turns on and they start to ask more complex questions. There are many questions that still aren’t being asked, and until they are, we won’t get better answers.”

Davis is excited to see how the course will evolve as more faculty members and students get involved, planning new and challenging ways to situate students’ learning in their experience—from guest discussions and living libraries, to consensus building exercises and a celebratory feast.

—

What do you hope to achieve as Asper’s first director of Indigenous business relations?

“Like IDM 2010, there are guidelines as well as space to make the role my own. I am excited to work collaboratively to create a vision for Indigenous business relations here at Asper and start to initiate a Reconciliation action plan for the School.

“Immediately, when this role was offered, I wanted to say yes. I see so much openness and receptiveness within the School to move forward with these initiatives; there’s a will to do our part to move this forward.”

Davis’ journey to this role began with a similar will, a willingness, to listen and take meaningful action toward Truth & Reconciliation. Her response involved seeking opportunities to learn, embracing change and always staying true to herself to align her actions with her values.

In the classroom, she is not interested in teaching students exactly how they should do their part. Instead, she invests time and effort into creating a space where they can voice, develop and find their own responses, uncovering their own journey to action.

As she puts it,

“My goal is to get students to see themselves as a subject in their journey towards Truth & Reconciliation in business.”

A reunion of sorts—though many of Perrin’s former IBEP classmates are still her closest friends—the IBEP 30^th is an opportunity for Perrin to make new connections, celebrate an incredible legacy and return to a space of community, warmth and welcome.

IBEP provides services to all First Nations, Métis and Inuit students who want to pursue a business degree at Asper, offering tutoring, access to bursaries and scholarships, and networking opportunities. IBEP also provides a welcoming community for students as they explore their leadership potential in the world of business.

Perrin, a BComm alum and current MBA student at the Asper School of Business, reflects on her first IBEP connections and an earlier invitation.

Perrin connected with IBEP when she was admitted to the BComm and was put in touch with then-program-director Peter Pomart [MBA/18].

“He was so enthusiastic and supportive. He said, ‘we just want you to come out to one of our events and get a feel for the community yourself.’ I’m glad I had that push because I don’t think I would have sought it out on my own,” says Perrin.

Perrin, who is a Métis Citizen, explains that she needed that push because she was still navigating what it meant to be part of a community like IBEP.

“I was only beginning to understand what indigeneity meant to me and what it meant to be Métis. I found that IBEP and UMICS [University of Manitoba Indigenous Commerce Students] were safe spaces to explore that while interacting with other Indigenous students at Asper and UM,” she says.

“I went to an event, and I was surprised by how welcoming and inclusive the space was. From there, I kept getting out there and getting involved.”

Perrin served on the executive council for the student group UMICS and led the planning of the 2020 Future of Indigenous Business Banquet, an annual student-run event—all while completing co-op work terms at Coca-Cola, Conviron and RBC and an international exchange study term at the Zagreb School of Economics and Management in Croatia.

Today, Perrin is a general manager of Métis economic and community development at the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF), in a role where she leads a team of eight Métis economic community development officers advancing economic interests across the Red River Métis Homeland.

“We also work to support and promote Red River Métis business owners and entrepreneurs, which is amazing and incredibly fulfilling work,” she says.

Perrin cares deeply about the impact of this role, noting how economic development efforts must work in harmony with community development, the protection of Indigenous rights holders in Canada, and environmental stewardship. In pursuing her MBA at the Stu Clark Graduate School, she applies leadership education to this work every day.

“The skills that I’m learning through the MBA program are directly benefiting my career, making me a more competent people manager and a more confident leader,” she says.

She notes that the MBA wasn’t always part of her plan, recalling Asper and IBEP community members hinting that she would be a good fit—that she’d find herself back at Asper somehow.

—

Perrin RSVPs to the IBEP 30^th excited to see old friends of course, but as she thinks about the invitations and encouragement she had on her own journey, she discovers another reason to attend.

“During my BComm, it was clear how so many professionals saw the value that IBEP brings to the Manitoba business community, and they would donate their time, stay connected and offer mentorship. I hope when I finish my MBA and as I become more established in my career that I can be that person for somebody,” she says.

“Because I know that’s been done for me so many times, and those moments were pivotal in me taking the next step—joining the MBA program, believing in myself enough to leave my first post-graduation role for something new—it’s been so important for me.”

—

The 30th anniversary celebration is not IBEP’s only major event this year. IBEP also hosts the Visionary Indigenous Business Excellence (VIBE) Awards each year, its largest fundraising event, generating support to serve Indigenous business students at the Asper School of Business. Sponsorship opportunities are now open for the 2024 VIBE Awards. Learn more about the annual event and how your organization can support this initiative here.

Investing in student success

Asper alum Nicole MacIntosh [BComm(Hons)/23] recounts the people, centres and services that gave her the tools she needed to succeed. Her story reveals how investing in student success involves resources, workshops, tutoring, funding opportunities and the like. But often the first step is creating communities where students know that there are other people who see their potential and their struggles and truly care about their success.

Read more here about MacIntosh’s journey to graduation, how she navigated an ADHD diagnosis and the supports at Asper and beyond that empowered her to succeed.

MBA alum leads with bravery, vulnerability and truth

Named CEO of Treaty One Development Corporation this May, Kathleen BlueSky [MBA/15] has always been driven by a desire to uplift Indigenous people and create more sustainable, just systems in her community.

She shares how business and entrepreneurship have been impactful in both her career and identity journey. “As a First Nations woman, working with my community has always been my drive. It has been my goal, focus and vision to empower self-determination at every level. Business is the best place to do that, to reinforce a solid foundation of independence, self-worth, and spirit.

“Entrepreneurship is about believing in yourself, believing in your value, 100%,” she said.

Read more here about how BlueSky creates the groundwork for change, facilitates the creation of more just systems and effective leaders, challenges beliefs carried across generations and makes space for a new narrative of worthiness, reclamation and collective energy.

Building Métis community through inclusion and identity

For Asper student Matthew Carriere, inclusivity recognizes that every individual—every generation—has wisdom to offer.

Whether he is heeding advice from his grandparents (encouraging him to go with his gut and pursue business) or engaging with the next generation of Indigenous business and Métis leaders, Carriere works to create spaces that value experience at every level—what he refers to as a “ladder of wisdom.”

“Everyone has their own story,” he explains. “Everyone is a visionary. Share your life experience and what you’ve seen of the world and seek that out in others. That exchange, that’s your leverage.”

Read more here about how Carriere is working to support Métis youth communities and what’s next in his Asper journey.

—

This National Indigenous Peoples Day, IBEP and the Asper School of Business are proud to share these stories. With nearly 200 alumni and approaching 30 years of serving First Nations, Inuit and Métis students at the Asper School of Business, IBEP has far more stories than can be captured in this short compilation. 

Learn more about how you can support student success—through mentoring, lunch-and-learns and career exploration—at the Asper School of Business by connecting with IBEP here.