b'SHOW DEVELOPMENTPhotos courtesy of Marissa Baecker/shootthebreeze.caScenes from the production of Bears Lair, which took placeat the Spirit Works Gallery in North Vancouver Jacksons long journey would eventuallywatching shows like the Dragons Dengirl and I love rhinestones,break the mould of the investmentand I always thought to myself WhyJackson laughs. reality TV show premise and feed theisnt there a show that only features By Gavin John spirit of Indigenous business across theIndigenous entrepreneurs, thatsAPTNs manager of original nation. After returning to Canada fromjudged by Indigenous judges ofprogramming, Kerry Morase-L.A., she found herself working for theprominence and put on an IndigenousSugiyama, enthusiastically supported Squamish Nation in British Columbianetwork? Jackson recalls.her idea. Kerry was amazing, and and spent the next 13 years as theirshe saw the vision and expected economic development officer. ThisThe idea of a show that promoted fed into her dream of finding a waythe spirit of co-opetition, ansomething good, says Jackson. She to support indigenous entrepreneursinclusive and uplifting combinationbecame a champion for the show. through the medium of television.of cooperation and competition, became a passion for Jackson.Despite the initial elation over the I helped over 500 entrepreneurs in theEventually the idea of Bears Lair successful pitch, there were many Squamish Nation see their fruition ofwas born.hurdles to follow, funding being a an idea go from concept to startingmajor one right off the bat. APTN their business, Jackson says. TheTHE PITCH stipulated that $400,000 would need most gratifying thing is just workingGoing only on a concept driven byto be raised to greenlight the project with entrepreneurs, and what I love ispassion, Jackson pitched her ideabefore they would take it on. There everyone has a story, everyone has for Bears Lair to the Aboriginalwere stipulationsyou must raise a struggle.Peoples Television Network (APTN)all the money for it, Jackson recalls. in March 2021. Part of working withThats the amazing thing about the As an Indigenous woman, JacksonAPTN is that one must have their own saw the untapped potential of herproduction company, so she alsoshow. APTN has never done a reality community and a plan came intocreated Sparkly Frog Productionsshow before and APTN has never in motion, one that would highlightIncorporated. Im part of the Frogits history had a show thats been self-Indigenous business stories. I wasClan, and Sparkly Frog because Im afunded before.Aboriginal BUSINESS REPORT17'