b'SHOW DEVELOPMENTAs the first Indigenous billionaireI think he sold his company for $900 million back in the dayhe has been an icon in Indigenous business. I think hes won every single award thats available for Indigenous business, notes Jackson. When he agreed to be on the show, when I put his name on the APTN document, they couldnt believe it. They phoned me up and they said, Is it true that Dave Tuccaro is going to be a judge on your show?After Tuccaro, Jackson would ask Robert Louie from Westbank First Nation and then Nipissing First Nations Tabatha Bull, CEO of CCAB. Both agreed without question. Robert Louie, I found, was more like the fatherly figure. He listens, he speaks eloquently, and people feel comfortable around him. Hes so accomplished and people are just in awe of him, but hes so down to earth, says Jackson. And then youve got Tabatha, whos this icon in Indigenous business. Shes a big advocate for women in the workplace and diversity among employment and really platforms industry, working with Indigenous people at a high level. And shes so good at that. Initially, Jackson did not consider putting herself forward as a judge, but her journey of entrepreneurism would prove invaluable and it was felt she would complete the comprehensive skillset of the judgingLICENSED TOBACCO MANUFACTURERgroup. I understand the grassroots level of entrepreneurism, she says, and the risks and the emotions that go with it and the steps that it takes to have the courage to believe inThe Odjick Group will produce products yourself and believe in your project, your product or your good, and tofor the Canadian market, provide export take it to the next level. products labelled EXPO or ALGONQUINDespite their busy schedules, all fourand cigarette brands. Made in Canada judges volunteered their time for the first series. There was no moneyfor Canada.given to them. There was nothing, emphasizes Jackson. It shows the type of people they are by giving back to what supported them, by giving back to communities. The Odjick Group Inc. Making their time commitmentLinda Odjick-Phone: 819-306-0885Proud new even more significant was that itEmail: odjickinc@gmail.com members ofwas decided from the get-go that none of the judges would take any Aboriginal BUSINESS REPORT19'