New APTN present spotlights Indigenous companies

Actuality TV followers have a brand new alternative to get their repair of enterprise exhibits, as a brand new collection options Indigenous businesspeople from throughout Canada.

Airing on Sunday nights on APTN, Bear’s Lair is just like Shark Tank and Dragon’s Den, however as a substitute of pitching their concepts and giving up possession of their corporations, contestants try to make it again to the ultimate episode and win the $100,000 grand prize.

Six episodes are grouped into classes, and contestants attempt to impress the judges with their enterprise concepts.

Present creator, decide, and Indigenous enterprise mentor, Geena Jackson mentioned the collection can’t be referred to as a contest, however one thing shut.

“We’re calling it a ‘co-op’etition as a result of I believe folks that watch the collection are going to see that about how we uplift one another, how we assist one another,” Jackson informed CTV Information.

One of many contestants is 3R Revolutionary Imaging, a enterprise made up of highschool college students from One Arrow First Nation.

Phoenix Willier, Andy Daniels and Ruby Daniels take recycled supplies and create distinctive Indigenous youth paintings.

Enterprise Membership Coordinator, Joe Taylor mentioned it began as a faculty undertaking, however the college students have been taking and fulfilling orders all through the pandemic. Now, their paintings is carried in 14 shops.

Enterprise Membership Coordinator Joe Taylor, Phoenix Willier, Andy Daniels and Ruby Daniels of 3R Revolutionary Imaging. (John Flatters/CTV Information)

“We used enterprise as a approach of discovering out about issues they knew nothing about, and assembly individuals they’d not in any other case have an opportunity to,” Taylor mentioned. “They’ve met the movers and shakers of the company world, and in all places they go, they turn out to be the centre of consideration in a heartbeat.”

Self-taught Indigenous baker, Alicia Hrbachek of Ally’s Cake Creeations mentioned showcasing her enterprise to the Bears was an awesome expertise, however the connections she made are much more rewarding.

“It was an excellent supportive surroundings,” Hrbachek informed CTV Information.

“After which to be surrounded by so many Indigenous entrepreneurs, some simply beginning up and a way up there with buildings and workers, it simply made me really feel like the place I used to be in my life was the place I used to be alleged to be.”

The ultimate episode of season one airs October sixteenth, however Jackson mentioned plans for season two are already in movement.

“I’m simply so excited for the nation to see who we’re as individuals,” she mentioned.