Designed by and for First Nations, our Entrepreneurship program fosters the development of innovative ideas and the growth of impactful ventures. We are proud to see the program evolve year after year to better meet the needs of First Nations communities, including the introduction of two learning pathways this year: Emerging Ventures and Growing Ventures.

As we celebrate our 4th cohort, we are proud to spotlight four inspiring projects that reflect the creativity, determination, and vision of dedicated First Nations entrepreneurs.

Maële Savard – Voiles nautiques

Through the Entrepreneurship Program, Maëlle Savard is strengthening the skills and practical tools needed to bring her vision of the first Indigenous women’s sailing team to life. She is deepening her knowledge of team building, planning, and project strategy, while developing the foundations required to structure and sustain her initiative over the long term. She is also building partnerships with national sailing organizations and exploring formal training pathways to support the project’s growth.

For Maëlle, sailing is much more than a sport. In 2025, after earning first place at the Coupe Femina, a new path opened before her. What began as a challenge became a powerful way to bring together women, Nations, and relationships with water.

From this vision, Voiles Nautiques was born sailing courses created for Indigenous women, many of whom are discovering sailing for the first time. Through these experiences, participants come together to learn, grow, build confidence, and take their place on the St. Lawrence River.

Looking ahead to 2026, Maëlle hopes to form the first Indigenous women’s sailing team, bringing together participants from different Nations and communities as one crew. By combining partnerships, training, and a strong strategic foundation, she is transforming an inspiring vision into a lasting initiative rooted in connection, leadership, and collective growth.

Watch Maëlle Savard on her sailboard as she is on the St-Lawrence River for National Indigenous Peoples Day

Julie Ann Cooper – Eeyou Cooper Real Estate

Within the Entrepreneurship Program, Julie Ann Cooper is strengthening the skills and practical tools needed to bring her vision for housing in Eeyou Istchee to life. Having experienced long waiting lists and the urgent need for housing firsthand, she joined the program to transform this reality into concrete, community-led solutions. She is developing the strategic and technical foundations required to structure and sustain her initiative over the long term.

Through Cooper Real Estate, Julie Ann aims to build quality, lasting homes while developing a sustainable model for residential development in Cree communities. What began with her own experience of waiting years for housing has grown into a determination to take action, not simply to wait for solutions, but to help build them.

Her approach includes renovating existing homes, launching new construction projects in Waswanipi, and gradually expanding to other communities. She is also building partnerships, developing a local network of construction and real estate professionals, and exploring training opportunities in carpentry and housing development for community members.

At the heart of Julie Ann’s vision is a commitment to improving access to housing, supporting dignity, and creating lasting opportunities. By developing solutions from within the community, for the community, she is turning lived experience into a structured and sustainable path forward.

Marianne Chevalier – Mikhu Chocolats et Gourmandises

A key challenge Marianne Chevalier identified in her entrepreneurial journey was delegation. For the past three and a half years, she has been building Mikhu Chocolats et Gourmandises, a chocolate and artisanal food business where she initially managed nearly every aspect herself, from production and packaging to sales and customer service. During peak seasons, working close to 100-hour weeks made her realize that doing everything alone was limiting both her growth and the long-term sustainability of her business.

Through the Entrepreneurship Program, Marianne developed new tools and strategies to better structure her operations, while also discovering the value of networking, collaboration, and shared learning. A meaningful turning point came when she connected with Gabriel Magnan, another participant in the same cohort, who helped redesign and professionalize her product labels. Their collaboration also led to the integration of the Wolastoqey language, contributing to its preservation and visibility.

This experience marked a concrete shift from working in isolation to building with others. Since then, Marianne has begun delegating key responsibilities, including branding, packaging, product photography, and order fulfillment. These changes have improved efficiency, strengthened the presentation of her products, and supported increased sales.

Marianne’s journey reflects how the program goes beyond skills development. It encourages self-reflection at first, then fosters meaningful connections, promotes collaboration, and enables entrepreneurs to build more sustainable businesses by learning from one another and supporting each other.

François Châteauneuf – Technologies OraVentis

François joined the Entrepreneurship Program with a clear ambition already in motion: to transform a complex industrial problem into a company with real potential for impact. As co-founder of Oraventis, he is developing a solution to improve air quality by detecting and measuring airborne dust particles, an issue that affects both workers and surrounding communities in industrial environments across Canada and beyond.

The challenge was not starting from an idea but learning how to structure it. Technology was already taking shape, What he needed was a clearer path to position Oraventis, define its business model, and grow sustainably in highly technical sectors such as ports, steel mills, and cement plants.

Through the Entrepreneurship Program, François has been able to take a step back from the technical side of the project and focus on strategy. He is refining his revenue model, exploring turnkey solutions with engineering partners, and thinking carefully about how to grow the company while staying aligned with his values and long-term vision.

The program has also helped him situate Oraventis within a broader ESG perspective, where air quality is not only a technical or industrial issue, but also a collective one. At its core, François’ journey reflects the transition from strong innovation to structured growth, building a venture that connects technology, strategy, and meaningful impact for people and communities.

These exceptional journeys showcase the strength of First Nations entrepreneurship bold initiatives rooted in community realities and driven by visionary, creative, and determined leaders.

Joining the FNEE Entrepreneurship program means gaining access to a learning environment tailored to the realities of First Nations entrepreneurs, breaking down isolation, strengthening your business model, and building lasting relationships with peers who share similar experiences.

FNEE extends its heartfelt thanks to BDC for its invaluable support, as well as to all the entrepreneurs whose daily commitment is creating lasting benefits for their communities and for future generations.

🎓 Ready to start your journey with us? Learn More
Next cohort: October 14, 2026 – April 2, 2027

The First Nations Executive Education is proud to once again benefit from the support of the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) this year. A valued ally of our Entrepreneurship program since its launch in 2022, BDC continues to demonstrate its commitment to our mission and to the advancement of First Nations entrepreneurship. We warmly thank BDC for its continued trust and invaluable support.