FILE PHOTO – Kamloops is home to a first-ever competition for emerging Indigenous entrepreneurs across North America. Pow Wow Pitch has partnered with Kamloopa Pow Wow to bring an exciting opportunity to the 41st annual pitch later this month, one of three Canadian locations to be selected this year.
Image credit: Will Garrett-Petts @WFGP via Twitter
July 11, 2022 – 7:00 p.m
For the first time, a competition for emerging indigenous entrepreneurs across North America is coming to Kamloops.
Pow Wow Pitch has partnered with Kamloopa Pow Wow to bring an exciting opportunity to the 41st annual pitch later this month, one of three Canadian locations to be selected this year.
“Adding the Pow Wow Pitch to our event will help us celebrate our vendors and emerging Indigenous entrepreneurs and show them how much they are supported,” said Kamloopa Pow Wow Director Delyla Daniels.
The traditional Kamloopa Pow Wow is one of the largest in the country and is known for its dancing and drumming competitions.
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“This is an important opportunity because as a First Nations people we need to build our economy, we are historically an economic people through trade,” she said. “We need to create jobs and economic wealth in our communities. We have come out of the loop and now as a people we are trying to rebuild ourselves.”
Entrepreneurs will have one minute to pitch in front of a panel of judges to earn cash prizes, mentors, promotion and exposure for their budding business. First prize is worth $5,000 and a golden ticket to the $25,000 grand prize Turtle Island Finals in the fall.
“The life umpires will pick the ten best pitches, and then those pitchers will be paired with mentors and pitch again for two minutes each,” she said.
Winners will be announced and celebrated during the awards ceremony via digital broadcast on November 3.
Contestants will receive access to a free Indigenous Startup Program that includes free technology, tools and support valued at $1,000.
“People who are interested can register online until the event date, and there will be a few spots available during the event for those who show up at the last minute,” Daniels said.
While she’s not sure of the exact number of pitchers registered to date, Daniels predicts that about 40 budding entrepreneurs with a wide variety of ideas will participate.
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The Kamloops Pow Wow is back after a two-year COVID-related hiatus, drawing people from across North America.
“It’s really about uplifting our community this year,” Daniels said. “We have gone through two years of difficulties and we want to host the best one we have so far. We are really excited.”
The Pow Wow Pitch is a local community of Indigenous entrepreneurs across Turtle Island, purpose-built to provide a safe, collaborative, supportive and empowering platform for inspiration, education, mentorship, celebration and reconciliation through entrepreneurship, according to the website.
Field events are held at 200-330 Chief Alex Thomas Way, with the first round on July 29th from 4:30pm to 6pm and the second round on July 30th from 9am to 11:30am.
For more information or to register, click here.
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