ABDC hosts entrepreneurial workshop for Indigenous youth

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Fort St. John will play host to an entrepreneurial workshop aimed at prospective First Nations business owners.

The North East Native Advancing Society’s (NENAS) offices will hold an Indigenous Youth Entrepreneur (IYE) workshop on Thursday, April 16th in Fort St. John.

NENAS will host the workshop, which is being facilitated by the Prince George Aboriginal Business and Community Development Centre (ABCDC).

The ABCDC itself is a non-profit organization focusing on supporting business, community and economic development among First Nations peoples, according to its website.

ABDC’s IYE business support officer, Brooklyn Kinsley, will oversee Thursday’s workshop in Fort St. John.

Kinsley’s visit is one of several visits to northern B.C. communities ABCDC representatives will make throughout 2026, including a visit to Dawson Creek in July.

“[Indigenous entrepreneurs] sometimes don’t have the credit that they need or the capital they need to start the process,” said Kinsley. “[If] they come to us with an idea, then we help them develop [it].”

Indigenous youth between 18 and 39 years old can head to NENAS at 10328 101 Avenue between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday, where Kinsley will guide them along to develop an idea to a proposal on prospective businesses.

The free event will include advice on business development tools, guidance and mentorship, door prizes and an honorarium of $100 to participants who complete the entire session. Breakfast and lunch will be provided for attendees.

“Come in with an idea,” said Kinsley. “We will show you how to develop your business plan.  What’s involved in the business plan is market research, [which is] develop[ing] a survey and with that, you want to reach about 100 people, and that’s to get the feedback to show that your idea is viable.”

“You can figure out your pricing strategy from there, then we will help you fill out your cash flow projections, so that can be a three to five-year cash flow projection.”

Indigenous entrepreneurship has been on the rise steadily in the past two decades. According to data from Statistics Canada, Indigenous-owned businesses were at a much higher rate than non-Indigenous businesses (18.7 per cent versus 15 per cent) in B.C. as of 2021.

The IYE workshop takes place on Thursday, April 16th, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is free and open to Indigenous youth ages 18-39 at NENAS offices at 10328 101 Avenue in Fort St. John.

For further details, call Kinsley at 250-562-6325 or email her at iyecoordinator@abdc.bc.ca.