Roots and Relations: A Pathway into Indigenous Entrepreneurship
Image of Florence Glanfield, Karen MacKenzie and Pamela McCoy-Jones
CERTIFICATE DESCRIPTION
This online, non-credit microcredential program consisting of four courses connects Indigenous identity, values, and community purpose with the practical skills needed to launch and sustain a successful venture. You will learn to navigate the business landscape through a culturally grounded lens, building foundational knowledge in finance, governance, strategy, and storytelling. The program emphasizes the Holistic Learning Model based on the Indigenous Medicine Wheel, helping you develop a resilient business model that ensures long-term reciprocity and responsibility to your community.
The program consists of four non-credit courses, each focused on a core tenet of Indigenous entrepreneurship: Relevance, Reciprocity, Responsibility, and Resilience.
- Relevance: Roots, Identity, Community and Venture Design
- Reciprocity: Structure, Story & Market Strategy
- Responsibility: Pitching & Relationship Building
- Resilience: Governance, Finance, & Sustainability
The courses are designed to be stacked, allowing you to build your skills progressively, or taken stand-alone to address immediate business needs.
CERTIFICATE PREVIEW
Is this program right for you?
This program is designed for:
- Indigenous learners curious about starting a business, side hustle, or community project. Individuals already operating a small venture who are seeking more structure and culturally grounded tools.
- Youth or early-career learners exploring entrepreneurship as a career pathway.
- Community members, educators, and service providers looking for a structured, culturally aligned framework to support Indigenous entrepreneurship.
- Learners new to post-secondary education looking for a safe, supportive introduction to university-level learning in a non-credit environment.
What you'll learn
By completing the full Roots & Relations program, you will be able to:
- Connect your cultural values and personal purpose to a clear, viable venture idea.
- Design a simple, community-focused business model after analyzing the local Indigenous business ecosystem.
- Handle basic financial records, manage compliance, and create simple financial plans.
- Evaluate basic risks, select the right legal structure, and define your operational obligations.
- Communicate your venture's story effectively and build reciprocal, lasting relationships with partners and the community.
- Navigate available supports and transform your coursework into a tangible "Starter Plan" portfolio, giving you the confidence to pitch to funders or advance to higher education.
What you'll earn
You’ll receive a Digital Badge upon the successful completion of each individual course.
Complete all four courses to earn the Digital Certificate in Roots & Relations: A Pathway into Indigenous Entrepreneurship.
CERTIFICATE DETAILS
This program consists of four core, non-credit courses, with each course containing four modules of instruction.
- Format & Delivery: 100% online. Content is mobile-optimized with paper-copy materials available for accessibility. Indigenous Advisor support is available throughout the program to assist learners.
- Pace: The program is designed for part-time study. You can take the four courses sequentially to earn the certificate, or request to take courses individually to focus on specific business needs.
- Community Voices: Learn directly from Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and established Indigenous entrepreneurs through exclusive video content and real-world stories integrated throughout the modules.
- Grade Assessment: Grading is Completed Requirements “CR” / Not Complete (Failure) “NC”, based on the completion of required milestone assignments within each course.
- Registration will open in May 2026
CERTIFICATE TEAM
Dr. Florence Glanfield
Project Co-Sponsor
Dr. Florence Glanfield is the Vice-Provost, Indigenous Programming and Research and a Professor of Mathematics Education in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta. She is a proud member of the Métis Nation within Alberta, born in Lac La Biche and raised in the Lac La Biche - Fort McMurray region of the province.
Jessica Butts Scott
Project Co-Sponsor
Jessica Butts Scott, MBA, serves as AVP, Online Learning & Continuing Education at the University of Alberta. Jessica is leading the U of A's online learning strategy to mobilize the development of online credit courses and programs in areas of distinct strength. She is also implementing a one-university approach to grow Continuing Education operations and access to enable lifelong learning. She has held progressively strategic leadership roles in post-secondary for the past twelve years, with a focus on online and adult education.
Pamela McCoy-Jones
Project Lead
Pamela McCoy-Jones (Anishinaabe) is from Wawa, Ontario, with family ties to Michipicoten First Nation and Batchewana First Nation. As the Executive Director, Indigenous Programming and Research at the University of Alberta, she specializes in leading large-scale projects by weaving Indigenous worldviews into the fabric of strategic planning and program implementation.
Justin Molander
Subject Matter Expert
Justin Molander, CPA, CMA and a member of the Sapotaweyak Cree Nation, is the founder of Trading Post Investments Ltd. An accounting educator and board leader, he advances Indigenous entrepreneurship through curriculum development, financial literacy, and governance-focused advisory support.
Laura Mueller
Subject Matter Expert
Laura Mueller, MBA, is a member of Nak’azdli Whut’en. She is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Northern British Columbia and is the founder of Matriarch Media, where her work centers on redesigning economic systems through Indigenous ways of being. She advocates for community-led financial models that restore collective economic agency and realign institutional structures with Indigenous ceremony and traditional teaching
Rory Crockford
Project Coordinator
Rory Crockford, PMP, is a Program Coordinator within the Office of the Vice Provost (Indigenous Programming and Research) at the University of Alberta. A seasoned academic professional and learning specialist, he advances institutional goals through strategic relationship management, program development, and the integration of diverse expertise in project management and Indigenous-focused research support.
George Houle
Student Intern
George Houle, a member of Goodfish Lake First Nation #128, is a Bachelor of Commerce student at the University of Alberta. He served as President of the Indigenous Business Students’ Association (IBSA), where he championed the creation of supportive spaces for Indigenous learners. An emerging business leader and youth advocate, he advances Indigenous economic development through student leadership, community mentorship, and advocacy for equitable business pathways.
COLLABORATORS
Karen MacKenzie
Elder/Entrepreneur
A proud Cree Métis woman, Karen champions the "Indigenous approach" to business, emphasizing that entrepreneurship is deeply rooted in Indigenous history and DNA. She advocates for venture design built on Wahkohtowin (relationships) and community connection rather than just Western business models.
Kendal Netmaker
Entrepreneur
A member of Sweetgrass First Nation, Kendal is an entrepreneur who founded the Indigenous Coaching Program to mentor the next generation of leaders. He leverages his experience as an award-winning business owner to guide youth in overcoming self-doubt and accessing capital to launch their own ventures.
Bobbie Racette
Entrepreneur
Bobbie Racette is a Cree-Métis and queer founder dedicated to turning lived experience into meaningful innovation. She is the founder of Tapwi, a platform supporting founders through access, community, and truth-driven entrepreneurship, and the founder of Virtual Gurus, an inclusive talent marketplace that was later acquired. A passionate advocate for inclusion and economic empowerment, Bobbie leverages her experience as an award-winning business owner to challenge systemic barriers, serving as the inaugural Chair of the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation and Chair of QueerTech.
Shelly Mandeville
Entrepreneur
Shelly Mandeville, ICD.D, is a senior Indigenous executive and entrepreneur specializing in economic development, governance, and enterprise growth. She is the Founder and CEO of Naoka Incorporated, Principal Partner of In Synch Consulting Inc., and Co-Executive Director of Aksis. Shelly brings a dual perspective to Indigenous entrepreneurship: she understands the realities of building and scaling a business, while also advising boards, capital providers, and development institutions on governance, risk oversight, and financial discipline. Her work bridges entrepreneurial ambition with institutional accountability to strengthen Indigenous-owned enterprises and professional networks across Canada. She has been provincially and nationally recognized for her leadership in Indigenous business.
Curtis Red Rokk Cardinal
Entrepreneur
A member of Whitefish Lake First Nation, Curtis is the owner of Tee Pee Treats Indigenous Cuisine, a renowned catering and dine-in business in Edmonton specializing in contemporary Indigenous comfort food. He uses entrepreneurship as a tool for reciprocity, mentoring aspiring business owners and running initiatives to provide hot meals for the unhoused community.