More than 35 citizens from the Huu-ay-aht First Nations, Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet) First Nation, the Uchucklesaht Tribe Government, and the Nuu-chah-nulth Economic Development Corporation (NEDC) participated in an engaging and informative Entrepreneurship Workshop on June 24, 2025. The workshop took place at the Barclay Hotel in Port Alberni, on the traditional territory of the Tseshaht and Hupacasath First Nations. The goal of the Entrepreneurship Workshop was an initiative to build a strong collaborative foundation of entrepreneurship across our communities.
The NEDC, who hosted the workshop, offers financing and loan programs and business advisory services to Indigenous entrepreneurs and First Nations community-owned businesses on Vancouver Island. The NEDC invited speakers were previous NEDC clients and are successful entrepreneurs from our communities who came to share their journey, challenges, hard work, and results/success stories.
The NEDC, who hosted the workshop, offers financing and loan programs and business advisory services to Indigenous entrepreneurs and First Nations community-owned businesses on Vancouver Island. The NEDC invited speakers were previous NEDC clients and are successful entrepreneurs from our communities who came to share their journey, challenges, hard work, and results/success stories.
Led by the NEDC team, the workshop topics included an introduction to entrepreneurship and the entrepreneurial mindset, understanding the sacrifices and rewards around business ownership, and addressed the common myths around business ownership. The NEDC team also provided an overview of support and services they provide, and recounted inspiring stories from local Vancouver Island Indigenous entrepreneurs.
The leadership and support for the Entrepreneurship Workshop provided by the team at NEDC workshop was well received. “The energy in the room was amazing and it was clear that the content really resonated with the participants”, reported Piyush Pushkarna, Huu-ay-aht First Nations Economic Development Officer.
We hope that more Nuu-chah-nulth Nations will join the next session, planned for September 2025, as we continue to work towards a strong foundation of entrepreneurship across our communities. For more information about Huu-ay-aht Entrepreneurship opportunities, please contact Piyush Pushkarna, Economic Development Officer, at email piyush.p@huuayaht.org or phone 250-723-0100.