Empowering Indigenous Innovation: A Milestone Event by North Forge and RRC Polytech

As part of the North Forge ElevateIP Program and our steadfast commitment to supporting hashtag#Indigenous communities, North Forge, in collaboration with RRC Polytech Research Partnerships & Innovation, hosted the transformative event, “IP for Indigenous Entrepreneurs.”

This gathering brought together innovators, legal experts, and community partners to explore how intellectual property (IP) can empower Indigenous entrepreneurs, protect traditional knowledge, and scale businesses rooted in applied research and cultural heritage.

Our President and CEO, Joelle Foster, opened the event with an inspiring announcement: Starting April 1, 2025, North Forge will dedicate additional resources to Indigenous entrepreneurs, including those leading culturally based businesses. This commitment reinforces our goal of creating equal opportunities across diverse business sectors.

We were honoured to host Beth Bailey and Rashveen Chawla from our ElevateIP partner, Communitech, who explored new collaborative opportunities to bolster Indigenous businesses. A heartfelt thank you to former board member Ashley Richard for hosting the event and for your continued support of our ecosystem!

Panel 1: The Strategic Use of IP

Moderated by our Strategic Initiatives & Marketing Director, Dana Driedger, CM, this panel discussed how IP can honour culture and foster community. Our esteemed panelists included:

• Yvan Guy Larocque who provided invaluable legal insights.

• Joel Weber, a successful Elevate IP applicant, shared his journey.

• Fawnda Neckoway, who inspired us with her story as a trailblazing Indigenous woman entrepreneur.

Panel 2: You Are Not Alone – Community Supports

Facilitated by Shane Grusko, this panel highlighted the wealth of resources available to entrepreneurs in Manitoba. Panelists included:

• Adam N. Nepon, BBA, MBA, CPHR Candidate (Indigenous Chamber of Commerce)

• Noah Wilson (Futurpreneur),

• Sean Rayland (Red Rebel Armour Inc).

Dan Patriarca from Fillmore Riley LLP delivered a compelling session on safeguarding IP while blending traditional knowledge with modern research—a vital perspective for building resilient businesses.

The event concluded with a session featuring Shane Grusko, Amy Jackson, Ralph Dueck, and Samantha Owsianski from RRC Polytech, who shared insights into their robust support systems for entrepreneurs.

This event’s success is a testament to the collective effort of the North Forge and RRC Polytech teams aiming for a brighter entrepreneurial future possible for Manitoba and Canada.

North Forge will continue to break barriers, foster innovation, and build bridges for all entrepreneurs. Together, we’re shaping a more inclusive and prosperous ecosystem.

Here’s to collaboration, innovation, and progress!