Indigenous Entrepreneurs

We asked Leigh how her cultural heritage and personal background have shaped her approach to business "My culture is at the foundation of how I run and grow Skwálwen Botanicals. I draw on cultural teachings at every turn. It is essential to me to follow teachings of being responsible, respectful and reciprocal in how I approach entrepreneurship. Following these teachings means I am making business decisions with environmental sustainability, community priorities and cultural context in mind," said Leigh.

MarkMarsolais-Nahwegahbow

Birch Bark Coffee Co was founded in 2018 by Mark Marsolais-Nahwegahbow, an Ojibwe and a Band Member of Whitefish River First Nation located on Birch Island, Ontario, in the District of Manitoulin Island Mark's mission is to change Indigenous lives across Canada by bringing Indigenous-grown coffee to the forefront

Through partnerships with coffee farmers of Indigenous descent, Mark ensures fair trade practices and showcases the unique flavours and stories behind each bag A portion of Birch Bark Coffee's proceeds goes into Indigenous communities, supporting educational initiatives and economic development

JeffWard FounderofAnimikiiIndigenousTechnology

Jeff Ward has been the driving force behind Animikii Indigenous Technology since its inception in 2003 He has combined technology with Indigenous knowledge to bridge the digital divide Animikii develops websites and custom software for leading Indigenous-focused organizations from all industries to drive positive change for Indigenous Peoples through technology. Jeff's commitment to empowering Indigenous peoples in the digital realm has led to numerous partnerships and initiatives, creating economic growth and self-determination opportunities

We asked Jeff his thoughts on this month and what it means to Animikii

"As we mark Indigenous History Month, I love to see celebrations of the diversity of Indigenous cultures across Turtle Island. Yes, it's a time for honouring our history, and this month is also about shaping a future where Indigenous voices lead in commonly excluded spaces, like technology At Animikii, we navigate this digital age guided by honouring cultural teachings and our history, using technology to tell our stories, amplify voices, and empower our communities. Let's continue to weave our stories into the digital fabric of the future, ensuring the spirit of our people thrives for generations to come, " said Jeff.

MitchGegwetch Founderof ResistClothing

Mitch Gegwetch founded Resist Clothing in 2020, a Toronto-based Indigenous streetwear fashion label that ignites global conversations through Indigenous-designed and art-infused apparel Inspired by his Ojibwe heritage, Mitch's clothing line incorporates Indigenous art, symbols, and messages that challenge stereotypes and promote Indigenous resilience.

Beyond fashion, Resist Clothing has raised & donated more than $60,000 to The Legacy of Hope Foundation and the Orange Shirt Society while amplifying Indigenous voices, inspiring allyship, strengthening resilience, and sparking transformative conversations

These five Indigenous entrepreneurs exemplify the vibrant spirit and resilience of Indigenous business owners in Canada They have created successful enterprises through innovative ventures, uplifted their communities, promoted cultural preservation, and challenged stereotypes Their stories serve as an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs, demonstrating that business can be a powerful vehicle for positive change and community development

By Paula Festas, CEO at Huumans

A seasoned executive, Paula Festas brings over 25 years of experience and a proven track record of success driving global, high-performing organizations towards profitable partnerships

Currently CEO at huumans, a smart, cost-effective accountancy and bookkeeping service for small business owners, Paula uses her extensive skill set to support SMBs at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey

Cloudaccountingsoftwareappearstobeprettysimple togetthehangof,whydoIneedtoworkwithan accountantorbookkeeper?

The easy answer: if the term ‘month-end’ sends shivers up your spine, it’s probably time to hire a bookkeeper or an accountant to manage your books

One of the greatest technological advancements for small business owners is cloud accounting like Xero; these tools democratized the knowledge required to run a small business, and put the power back into the hands of so many business owners With that said, most people don’t get into entrepreneurship to spend their time reviewing financial statements Many people become entrepreneurs because they’re passionate about something and they want to make a living out of it; bookkeeping is just a necessary part of running a business that many people will choose to outsource if they have the option

Accountants and bookkeepers aren’t much different than any other professional service you would hire, like a hairdresser, a contractor, or real estate agent. You hire these people because they’ve spent time honing their craft, and you can trust them to do a good job. In a world where some small business owners will hire their cousin’s friend’s uncle to do their bookkeeping (nothing against them—we’re sure they’re very nice!) there is undeniable value in hiring a trusted advisor to ensure your books are organized, up-to-date, and not sounding any alarms.

Ofcourse,thedecisiontobringonanaccountant orbookkeeperdependsonalotofvariables. Beforeyoumakethedecision,askyourself:

Is your business full-time, part-time, or a side hustle? If you’re earning under a certain threshold per year, or you’re simply reporting on revenue and expenses, you might be able to get away with using a cloud accounting software. If all your income is coming from your small business it might be worth having a professional take the helm

Would you consider yourself a numbers person? I don’t think you need a finance degree to manage your bookkeeping, but it does help to be comfortable with financial statements, especially when you need deeper insight into your business’ performance Having difficulty keeping track of bills, invoices, and receipts? You might want to hire a professional

Do you have employees or hire contractors? If you’re responsible for deducting tax from employees, managing payroll, and distributing tax forms, you’re probably in a situation where you need to outsource your bookkeeping.

If you consider yourself a little tech savvy and your business’ finances are relatively straight forward, you could get away with managing your books using a cloud accounting software like Xero, but if you have plans to scale your business or bring on employees, it’s advisable to bring on a professional to make sure you ’ re covering all your bases Especially if you ’ re in a position where you need to make quick business decisions, it can be valuable to bring on a bookkeeper to reconcile your books bi-weekly or even weekly.

If your needs are a bit more complex, bringing on an accountant might be the best approach An accountant can prepare P&L statements, tax returns, cash flow projections, business forecasts, as well as provide advisory services for small business owners who are facing anything from applying for a loan, to having conversations about buying or selling a business On top of that, if you have (or plan to hire) employees, an accountant can get your business set up so you ’ re paying the correct provincial and federal taxes, insurance, and other deductions, so once tax time rolls around you dont have any surprises

As CEO of huumans, we ’ re helping break down the barriers small business owners face when applying for loans or credit products We’ve seen it first hand: banks can view small business owners and entrepreneurs as “high-risk”, but with an accountant to prepare the financial statements you need, the credit application process becomes more straightforward We provide clients with an AI-powered small business reporting dashboard that provides real-time and predictive insights about small business health Through a simple integration with cloud accounting software, the dashboard provides calculations for everything a business owner or advisor needs from COGS to payroll

So, to go back to the initial question, cloud accounting platforms are great and many entrepreneurs can and do manage their own bookkeeping with ease, but there will always be people who either dont feel comfortable with this technology, don’t have time to take care of the day-to-day operations, or simply want a professional opinion or an advisor to help them in their small business journey, and huumans is here to support those people every step of the way

Disclaimer: This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice