On September 17, 2024, Economic Development Winnipeg (EDW) hosted Inclusive Growth: Leveraging the Economic Strength of Indigenous Businesses in Winnipeg at the Wyndham Garden Winnipeg Airport Hotel, located on Long Plain First Nation.  

The event brought together our business community, tourism partners, government stakeholders and Indigenous business leaders to explore opportunities for collaboration. 

The afternoon began with an honour song performed by Clifford Spence. Dennis Meeches – President of Tribal Councils Investment Group of Manitoba, former Chief of Long Plain First Nation, and EDW Board Member – followed with reflections on the Wyndham Garden Hotel's opening, emphasizing the importance of embracing change and nurturing strong relationships. 

The panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Stephen Borys, Director & CEO of the Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq and EDW Board Member, featured:

• Michelle Cameron, Founder & Owner of Dreamcatcher Promotions, INAC, and Dreamcatcher Executive Offices 
• Andrew Lawson, President & CEO of Lawson Consulting & Surveying Ltd. and Lawson Pipeline & Utility Services 
• Lisa Meeches, Co-Founder of Eagle Vision Inc., Executive Director of the Manito Ahbee Festival, and Executive Producer of the Orange Daisy Project 
• Herb ZoBell, Vice President of Commercial Financial Services, Indigenous Markets at Royal Bank of Canada

Kicking off the conversation, Michelle Cameron spoke to her experience growing Dreamcatcher Promotions into the largest Indigenous promotional company in Canada, including a recent partnership with the Winnipeg Jets. She explained that strong partnerships are essential for Indigenous businesses to thrive.  

“I’m very fortunate to have some great partners—some of you are in the room today,” she said. “Partnerships help small, Indigenous companies grow into the next level and help us see a bigger future for ourselves. We have to open those doors to pave the way for others.”  

Andrew Lawson provided practical suggestions throughout the discussion for business leaders and reflected on the challenges that came with scaling his Winnipeg-based business to a national level. 

“Indigenous businesses haven’t been around for 75 or 100 years – we’re starting up and competing against large corporations that have economies of scale with existing corporate relationships,” he said. “When you're looking at your supply chain and which businesses to work with, consider Indigenous businesses and give them that opportunity. The majority of the time, you're going to get the same, if not better, quality of service.”

Herb ZoBell highlighted RBC's efforts to implement  Call to Action 92 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He detailed the company’s advancements in economic reconciliation through Indigenous hiring practices, mentoring programs and inclusion initiatives. 

“Inclusive economic development is a concept that should allow for growth of any marginalized community or individual,” said Herb ZoBell. “It’s been about 30 years since RBC started taking a step in the right direction and there’s still so much that needs to be done, but I think we’re heading down the right path.”  

Lisa Meeches encouraged the audience to ask difficult questions and be open to learning from Indigenous leaders and businesses.  

“For me, reconciliation looks like what we’ve been doing at Eagle Vision all these years,” she said. “When I sit at a table with my writing team and my co-producers who are non-Indigenous, I know that I have full editorial control. We start off every production in ceremony; we work together in co-production; and make sure everyone is following the protocols and pathways discussions.”

Reflecting on the recent growth of the Indigenous tourism and business industry, Meeches also highlighted the importance of community engagement and amplifying Manitoban voices, citing the recent success of the Manito Ahbee Festival, which attracted 26,000 attendees and 4 million online viewers in 2024.  

Dr. Stephen Borys also added his perspective to the conversation, sharing that the success of the Winnipeg Art Gallery-Qaumajuq required a fundamental shift in the structures and processes of the organization.  

“Success has only been possible because we’ve changed the colonial infrastructure; not just in terms of who we hire, credentials we require and the programs we offer, but also the bylaws that guide us that were either racist, discriminatory or prevented us from moving forward,” he said.   

These insights were just a few of the valuable takeaways from the conversation. The event was a powerful reminder that fostering the growth of Indigenous businesses benefits not only Indigenous communities but is also vital to Winnipeg's future prosperity. By continuing these conversations and identifying ways to implement meaningful changes toward economic reconciliation across the business community, we can build a more inclusive and equitable economy for all.