Indigenous Business Week 2026, January 26th – 30th

Thank you to Our Sponsors

Indigenous Business Week is back — bigger, bolder, and more community-driven than ever. From January 26–30, 2026, NAABA proudly invites members, industry partners, entrepreneurs, and the public to join us for a week-long celebration of Indigenous innovation, leadership, and economic success in the Wood Buffalo region.

This year, we are excited to bring back some of NAABA’s most popular signature events, offering unique opportunities for connection, visibility, and collaboration across the Indigenous business ecosystem.

Featured Events

✨ Certified Full Aboriginal Member Tradeshow
A premier showcase of Certified Full Aboriginal Member businesses. Attendees can explore a wide range of products and services, meet local Indigenous entrepreneurs, and engage directly with business owners driving economic impact in the region.

🤝 Quick Connect Networking Event
A fast-paced, high-energy opportunity for Indigenous businesses and industry partners to make meaningful connections. Participants rotate through short, focused conversations designed to spark partnerships, contract opportunities, and future collaborations.

☕ Networking Café
A welcoming, relaxed environment where members and partners can drop in, connect, exchange ideas, and build relationships. Perfect for those who prefer authentic conversation over formal networking.

🌿 Ladies Luncheon
A celebratory gathering honouring Indigenous women in business and leadership. This empowering luncheon features inspiration, connection, and community-building among women entrepreneurs, professionals, and changemakers.

🧵 Artisan Market
A vibrant marketplace highlighting the creativity and craftsmanship of local Indigenous artisans. Attendees can shop authentic handmade goods, meet the creators, and support local cultural entrepreneurship.

🏠 NAABA Open House
A chance to visit the NAABA office, meet the team, explore the SOAR program, and learn about membership, certification, and business supports available through the association.

Why Indigenous Business Week Matters

Indigenous Business Week shines a spotlight on the strength, resilience, and excellence of Indigenous businesses in our region. Throughout the week, participants can:

  • Build meaningful relationships and partnerships
  • Discover procurement and sourcing opportunities to expand your business reach
  • Celebrate Indigenous culture, entrepreneurship, and leadership
  • Support local artists and business owners
  • Learn how NAABA continues to advance economic reconciliation

Join Us

Whether you’re a business owner, industry partner, community member, or supporter of Indigenous economic growth, Indigenous Business Week offers something for everyone. We invite you to be part of this inspiring week as we champion Indigenous success and community collaboration.

Tradeshow Registration Open

Sponsorship Opportunities Available

RMWB Procurement Information Session

🕙 Jan 26th, 10:00 am – 11:00 am
📍 NAABA Office, 9917 Biggs Ave
👤 Certified Full Members, Artisan Members

This session will provide an update and overview of the RMWB’s Municipal Procurement Strategy for Indigenous Businesses and how Indigenous participation is recognized in the Municipality’s procurement process.  Participants will be connected to available supports and resources to help local Indigenous businesses pursue municipal work.

Sevenfire AI Seminar Lunch & Learn

🕙 Jan 26th, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
📍 NAABA Office, 9917 Biggs Ave
👤 Certified Full Members, Artisan Members

Move beyond the buzzwords and step into the driver’s seat. In this interactive Lunch and Learn, we won’t just show you how AI is transforming business, we’ll hand you the keys! You will team up to solve real-world business challenges using live AI tools, proving that whether you are a startup or an enterprise, you can turn hours of work into minutes of strategy.

Presented by: Matt Hann and Joseph Khoury

Matt Hann is the owner/ co-founder of Sevenfire AI Solutions, an Indigenous-owned AI company based in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Sevenfire AI helps organizations across industries use artificial intelligence to work smarter—through analytics, automation, and intelligent monitoring tools.

Originally from Newfoundland and proud of his Qalipu Mi’kmaq heritage, Matt spent 18 years in the oil and gas sector, working in both mining and plant maintenance. Along the way, he developed a strong passion for AI, completing several courses and diving deep into books and hands-on learning to understand how emerging technologies can transform business.

Matt believes AI isn’t just for big companies—it’s a powerful tool that can support organizations of any size by saving time, improving operations, and unlocking new opportunities.

Joseph Khoury is a Senior AIOps Engineer at Sevenfire AI, where he leads the development of applied Artificial Intelligence solutions, specializing in next-generation Computer Vision and predictive observability systems. With a career spanning two decades, Joseph has established himself as an authority in the AI and machine learning space, having authored over 40 technical courses for leading e-learning vendors on subjects including AI, Cloud Technologies, and Computer Forensics.

His entrepreneurial track record includes the founding and acquisition of LabMentors by a publicly traded US company. Joseph’s passion for technology is rooted in his early engineering research, including an IEEE-published paper on expert rule-based modeling. Today, he focuses on demystifying AI, Cloud, and emerging object detection architectures, helping organizations leverage these tools for strategic advantage.

January Member Meeting – Presented by A.P.E Maintenance

🕙 Jan 26th, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
📍 NAABA Office, 9917 Biggs Ave
👤 Certified Full Members, Artisan Members, Associate Members

Partnering for Progress: The Intersection of Sustainable Procurement & Economic Reconciliation at ATB Financial (Virtual) 

🕦 Jan 27th, 9:00 am – 10:00 am
📍 Virtual
👤 Certified Full Members

Come and learn about ATB’s Reconciliation Journey: Understand the milestones, vision, and commitments across the five pillars of ATB’s Reconciliation Action Plan. Discover how to work with ATB: Get practical information on ATB’s strategic sourcing process and Indigenous Vendor Database.

Marketing Information Seminar with Robbie Picard Media

🕘 Jan 27th, 10:00 am – 11:00 am
📍 NAABA Office, 9917 Biggs Ave
👤 Certified Full Members, Artisan Members

Travel Alberta and Indigenous Tourism Alberta – Presented by Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Economic Development and Tourism 

🕘 Jan 27th, 11:00 am – 1:00 Pm
📍 NAABA Office, 9917 Biggs Ave
👤 Certified Full Members, Artisan Members

The Way Forward in Tourism

Join Travel Alberta and Indigenous Tourism Alberta for an informative and engaging presentation focused on tourism opportunities, business supports, and resources available to rural and Indigenous communities. This session is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs, new operators, and established businesses looking to grow, scale, or better understand the tourism landscape in Alberta.

What to Expect

Participants will gain a clear understanding of who Travel Alberta and Indigenous Tourism Alberta are, the roles they play within the tourism ecosystem, and how they can act as strong allies for tourism operators and entrepreneurs. The session will highlight available programs, start up resources, funding supports, and development pathways relevant to Indigenous and rural communities.

The presentation will conclude with an interactive question and answer session, offering attendees the opportunity to connect directly with industry experts and ask specific questions related to their business or ideas.

Session Breakdown

Session One
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM

This session will focus on entrepreneurship, innovation, and regional business supports. Attendees will learn about local resources available to aspiring entrepreneurs and businesses seeking support for growth and scale.

Melonie Doucette

Director of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Economic Development and Tourism

With over 20 years of experience, Melonie specializes in sustainable economic development, workforce development, and regional growth strategies. She is a recognized community leader dedicated to advancing opportunities across northern Alberta.

Jennifer Warren

Manager of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Economic Development and Tourism

Jennifer brings extensive experience in stakeholder relations, sales, retail management, and event coordination. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Retail Management and Marketing and is passionate about building strong community connections and supporting impactful initiatives.

Session Two
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

This lunch and learn session will explore the roles of Travel Alberta and Indigenous Tourism Alberta, with a focus on tourism development, Indigenous led tourism, and how operators can access support, guidance, and promotional opportunities.

Blaine Mirasty

Destination and Commercial Development Manager, Travel Alberta

Blaine supports sustainable tourism growth, destination investment, and product development across northern Alberta. A proud member of Flying Dust First Nation, he brings both lived experience and professional expertise in Indigenous relations, community engagement, and economic development. Blaine is passionate about advancing Indigenous led tourism and fostering meaningful partnerships.

Renee Fehr

Development and Membership Specialist, North Region, Indigenous Tourism Alberta

Renee is a proud Métis professional with extensive experience in banking, education, Indigenous liaison work, and small business coaching. She supports Indigenous tourism operators across northern Alberta and is a strong advocate for community driven tourism and remote destinations.

PrairiesCan – Grant Program Information Session

🕙 Jan 27th, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
📍 NAABA Office, 9917 Biggs Ave
👤 Certified Full Members, Artisan Members

Vanessa will be speaking about the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI), delivered by Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) and Canada’s six other regional development agencies, is part of the Government of Canada’s strategy to defend Canadian jobs, industries, and supply chains. This new initiative is part of a coordinated effort to protect Canadian businesses and workers from the impacts of tariffs.
With $1 billion in targeted support, the RTRI strengthens the competitiveness of impacted small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) by helping them diversify their markets, create new export revenue sources, adopt innovative technologies to boost productivity and competitiveness, and build more resilient supply chains. To that end, RTRI will equip businesses, and the organizations that support them, to seize new opportunities, adapt to global trade disruptions, and boost domestic trade. These investments will contribute to long-term economic resilience in the face of continued global uncertainty.
PrairiesCan collaborates with other federal departments, Indigenous partners, and provincial governments so that businesses have access to the full range of supports available to them.
As a Senior Business Officer working out of PrairiesCan’s Fort McMurray service location, Vanessa Cheeseman is helping connect northern Alberta communities to federal resources. “As a service location employee, I represent PrairiesCan at multiple tables and connect people in my community with PrairiesCan and other parts of the federal government,” she explains. Vanessa’s role is vital in ensuring local community members have access to federal programs and resources, allowing them to leverage economic opportunities and address challenges more effectively.

Introduction to Indigenous Federal Procurement

🕦 Jan 28th, 9:00 am – 10:00 am
📍 NAABA Office, 9917 Biggs Ave
👤 Certified Full Members, Artisan Members

Are you considering selling to the Government of Canada? Join a representative from Procurement Assistance Canada (PAC) to learn about the federal procurement process to help you decide if you want to pursue federal procurement for your business.

This seminar will help you:

  • Understand the federal procurement process
  • Understand how the Government of Canada buys
  • Learn about additional sources of information for companies considering selling to the federal government

Daisy Truong, Procurement Outreach Specialist, graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 2018 with a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in finance. During university, she joined Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) in 2017 as a Procurement Assistant for her internship through the Edwards School of Business Cooperative Education Program. After graduation, Daisy joined PSPC indeterminately as a Procurement Office purchasing various goods and services. In 2022, she joined Procurement Assistance Canada as a Procurement Outreach Specialist to help support businesses and share how they can participate in federal opportunities.

Fun Fact: Daisy enjoys traveling to learn about different cultures and taste local dishes.

Pulse Check Cliff Turner from ATB

🕦 Jan 28th, 10:00 am – 11:00 am
📍 NAABA Office, 9917 Biggs Ave
👤 Certified Full Members, Artisan Members

Streamline your strategy and Master the art of the quarterly business review. Unlock the secrets to a hassle-free way of keeping your business ahead of the curve in this dynamic session! Learn a swift and straightforward method to conduct a Quarterly Business Review (QBR) that won't bury you in calculations but will keep you informed and ready to act. This session is designed for busy leaders who need to maximize their time while staying deeply connected with their business's progress. Whether you're a startup founder, a seasoned executive, or somewhere in between, you'll walk away with the tools to conduct effective, insightful quarterly reviews that drive success. 

Cliff Turner is an Entrepreneur Ecosystem Strategist at ATB Financial, where he supports businesses through every stage of their journey. With a rich background in entrepreneurship, he has founded and run three of his own ventures, including his latest startup this year, Shire Tire, a mobile tire service in Edmonton.

He also has experience with a national small business advocacy group and helped design and operate a medical supply mission in Eastern Europe. This diverse background gives him the experience and a strategic mindset to serve as a true thinking partner for entrepreneurs, offering creative solutions, guidance, and valuable connections to help them navigate challenges and capitalize on opportunities.

Ladies Luncheon 

🕘 January 28th, 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
📍 NAABA Office, 9917 Biggs Ave
👤 Certified Full Members, Artisan Members

Professional Headshots with Moccasin Media

🕘January 28th, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
🕘January 30th, 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
📍 NAABA Office, 9917 Biggs Avenue
👤 Certified Full Aboriginal Members, Artisan Members

Back by popular demand! NAABA is excited to offer our members a fantastic opportunity to have professional headshots taken by Nick Vardy of Moccasin Media. Whether you’re updating your LinkedIn profile, enhancing your business portfolio, or simply need a fresh look for your professional presence, these headshots will set the right tone. 

Nick Vardy serves as Vice Chair of the Northern Alberta Aboriginal Business Association (NAABA), helping advance Indigenous economic participation and build stronger relationships between Indigenous businesses and industry across the Wood Buffalo region. He is the owner of Moccasin Media, an Indigenous-owned visual storytelling studio specializing in photography and videography that highlights Indigenous leaders, businesses, and communities.

A Barefoot Onondaga man from Six Nations of the Grand River, Nick has called Treaty 8 home since 2013. His work blends creative storytelling with advocacy for Indigenous procurement, fair opportunity, and the next generation of Indigenous entrepreneurs. Nick is especially passionate about mentoring youth and creating spaces where local Indigenous businesses can be seen, heard, and hired. He lives in Fort McMurray with his family and continues to use his lens and leadership roles to champion Indigenous success stories across Northern Alberta

Fort McMurray Entrepreneur Talks presented by ATB and WBRIN

🕘January 28th, 4:30pm – 6:30pm
📍 Fort McMurray Golf Club

Connect with local small business owners and find inspiration. Join us to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit in Fort McMurray!

Building a business can be a lonely journey, but it doesn’t have to be. ATB Financial and the Wood Buffalo Regional Innovation Network (WBRIN) are proud to host Entrepreneur Talks.

This event is designed to bring together the brightest minds and hardest workers in our local economy. Whether you are in the “napkin sketch” phase of a startup or have been running a local staple for decades, there is a seat for you at the table.

What to Expect

  • Meaningful Networking: Meet fellow entrepreneurs and small business owners in a relaxed, professional setting. Build the connections that help your business thrive.
  • Real Stories, Real Challenges: Listen to a featured local entrepreneur share a candid “war story” about a specific business obstacle they faced and, more importantly, how they overcame it. (Speaker to be announced soon!)
  • Refreshments: Enjoy light snacks and refreshments provided by the Fort McMurray Golf and Country Club.

The Details

  • Date: Wednesday, January 28th, 2026
  • Time: 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
  • Location: The Bouchier Room @ Fort McMurray Golf and Country Club
  • Cost: Free to attend

About the Hosts

ATB Financial and WBRIN are committed to supporting local innovation and economic growth. We provide the resources, networking opportunities, and expertise needed to help Fort McMurray entrepreneurs succeed on a local and global scale.

Space is limited in the Bouchier Room. Please RSVP early to secure your spot and help us coordinate refreshments.

Please note: These events are created specifically for Entrepreneurs and small business owners. To ensure a supportive and collaborative environment, they are not designed for commercial bankers, individuals in business development roles, insurance brokers, financial advisors (unless employed by ATB), or multi-level marketing (MLM) companies.

Open House & Artisan Market

🕘January 30th, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
📍 NAABA Office, 9917 Biggs Avenue
👤 Everyone Welcome

Cap off an incredible week by joining us at the NAABA Office for our Open House and Indigenous Artisan Market! This event is a perfect opportunity to explore the vibrant culture and creativity of Indigenous artisans, offering unique handmade goods perfect for gifts or personal treasures. Whether you’re looking to network, shop, or simply enjoy a day filled with culture and community, this event promises something for everyone. 

Interested Artisans, please register at the link below.