ALMIGHTYVOICE EDUCATION CENTRE BUSINESS CLUB
OUR HISTORY
The Business Club has been in operation at the school for several years now. The idea was first brought to the community as the Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneur Program. The agenda and goals were focused on introducing the students to the world of business in a “learn through doing” manner. We hoped to have the students find an idea for a business, take it from the “light bulb going off” stage, do research and market development, look at pricing, profits, budgeting, and all areas that businesses must go through. And, as a result, have a business to move forward with. Our goals always included creating chances and opportunities that they would otherwise never would have the opportunity to do. We provide opportunities to meet and interact with motivating and inspiring professionals, business owners, successful entrepreneurs, and corporate leaders.
Our motto is; “OPENING DOORS TO CAREERS AND FUTURES THAT THEY NEVER KNEW EXISTED.”
OUR JOURNEY
While we have had ups and downs throughout the years, we have accomplished many things, attended a multitude of events, conferences, and trade shows. We always find that our youth instantly become the center of attention wherever we go. They have an empowering story to share, a very successful business to showcase, and the potential to become “positive changemakers” to Indigenous youth far beyond the boundaries of their community. Along this journey, we are able to witness first-hand the growth in personal attributes such as self-confidence, self-esteem, self-pride, and public speaking skills.
PAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Attended the Vision Quest Conference in Winnipeg, as trade show vendors.
- Travelled to Regina to attend a session of Legislature, and had meetings with the Premier and Senior Cabinet Members.
- Hosted a workshop at Canadian Roots Exchange National Conference.
- Had a student from our community act as a Youth Council Member for a Mental Health Conference.
- Volunteered at many events and Charity Benefits.
- Provided their business products as gifts for dignitaries, keynote speakers, and conferences. In many instances, the students were invited to attend the event, present the gifts personally, and make presentations on their “Life in Business.”
STUDENT OWNED BUSINESSES
- “IT STOPS THE STINK” Sewer Vent Extension Kits.
- 3R Innovative Imaging
This was our first venture into the business world. We invented a product that eliminates snow and ice from covering the vents on rooftops. We have been successful selling these from the start, and have our kits installed on many homes across the province. A few years ago, we were able to have a patent search done on our product, which came back in our favor to proceed with a patent application. How cool would that be to have a patent in the name of youth from One Arrow First Nation.
Chief and Council just recently gave their approval for us to make the “patent application” on this product. This alone will open many doors for us as we look to have this product sold in major retail stores across the country.
2022 promises to be the year of “IT STOPS THE STINK!!!!!!
The students are doing their part to help save the environment by taking cabinet doors, fenceboards, and wood that would otherwise end up in the garbage dump, adding culturally significant images and sayings, painting them, and turning the package into beautiful works of art. This business has been very successful ever since that first event where we showed and sold this product. We have added many different images, are doing different painting techniques, and always look for new products to add to our list. Things were just taking off, we had 15 to 20 students participating actively, and then…………………
COVID 19
With community lockdowns, school closures, and knowing that all events and traditional ways of selling were eliminated for the future, the business club was faced with a difficult decision. We could fold up our tents and wait it out, or look for new ways of doing business. We had never had our products in retail stores before, and realized that the world of retail was a whole different way of doing business. But we tried anyways, and what a fabulous decision that has turned out to be. We got one product into the Wanuskewin Gift Store in Saskatoon in November of 2020, and the business changed overnight. Since that time, we now how many of our products being sold in 11 Gift and Convenience Stores across the province and one in Manitoba. We have added new products like the Rear View Mirror Hangings. These were an instant success. We sold almost 1500 of these in the first months (November 2021 to February 2022), and have received orders for 750 of these hangings for large conferences in the next few months. As well as making inventory for all products for all of our retail locations, the next few months promise to be busy and successful.
2021. A YEAR TO REMEMBER.
1) Pow Wow Pitch is a business competition for Indigenous Entrepreneurs across Turtle Island. We submitted an application for both of our student owned businesses. Out of over 1650 applications, both of our businesses made the regional semi finals and from there, our 3R Innovative Imaging Company was selected as one of the 27 Finalists. And the result was……….4th OVERALL!
AMAZING, INCREDIBLE, AND WELL DESERVED.
2) Bear’s Lair is new television show being produced by APTN. It is a Dragon’s Den version for Indigenous Entrepreneurs from across Canada. Our 3R Innovative Imaging Company made a submission, were one of 35 businesses short listed for an interview, and one of 18 businesses eventually chosen as finalists. We travelled to Vancouver in February, 2022, and were filmed for the television show. Ruby and Phoenix did an incredible job of “pitching” their business to a renowned group of judges. The show will be aired this fall on APTN National, and we plan to have a large community celebration when the show is aired. Stay tuned for details.
The girls should be so proud of themselves for the way they represented their business, their school, and the entire community.
WHAT LIES AHEAD
3R Innovative Imaging is very busy. We have plans to actively market the “IT STOPS THE STINK” Sewer Vent Extension Kits and make a patent application on this product. And we plan to have the Business Club Program continue throughout the summer.
We with world opening up, there will be many opportunities to travel to and participate in many events in the near future.
We encourage students that wish to participate to reach out to us at the school. We only ask three things from you. Come to school, have a good attitude, and be willing to try new things and achieve at all things asked of you.
One Arrow First Nation and the AEC Business Club is open for business. Lets create something special together.
Respectfully submitted,
Joe Taylor
AEC Business Club Co-ordinator