b'WHERE ARE THEY NOW?CCAB YOUNG ABORIGINAL ENTREPRENEUR AWARDIn 2015, Kendal Netmaker became just the second recipient of CCABs Young Aboriginal Entrepreneur Award. It was an honour bestowed on him in large part because of his incredible determination to build the successful lifestyle apparel brand Neechie Gear. The Young Aboriginal Entrepreneur Award highlights the enterprising spirit of Indigenous business leaders under the age of 35 and honours young entrepre-neurs who are driving the Indigenous economy forward. To date, 10 incredible young businesspeople have earned the accolade.Shark Tank says youre a success, is that when its true? Whencareers and communities. They are shown the steps to research you get the call from a national news network for a primetimebusiness opportunities and supports available to assist them in interview? Sign a book deal? Get a message from a Fortunestarting or growing a business. The program is designed for First 500 company wanting to fly you in for a speaking engagement? Nations, Mtis and Inuit youth across Canada between the ages of 17 and 35, emphasizing leadership skills, resiliency and confi-For Netmaker, its all of the above. The young entrepreneurhedence. Im asked all the time to be a mentor, but there is just is just in his mid-thirtieshas already founded and invested inno way I could say yes to everyone, so this is my opportunity to five businesses, authored the book Driven to Succeed, and wonengage in mentorship with a wider impact, Netmaker explains.more than 25 business awards, including being named one of Canadas Top 40 Under 40. He lives with his wife and two childrenThe future and wellbeing of youth are a priority not only for in Saskatoon, where he continues to run his company while deliv-ering virtual and in-person keynotes and providing IndigenousNetmaker but for his wife Rachel as well, a teacher at an inner-consulting services to organizations across North America. city elementary school. She often comes home sharing difficult stories. It breaks my heart when she tells me about Indigenous GIVING BACK Despite his young age, Netmaker has experienced all the ups and downs of entrepreneurship where economies shift, loyal-ties grow and wane, and pandemics spontaneously erupt. He has adapted and pivoted and done all the things that resilient leaders do to thrive and survive. Netmaker continues to run Neechie Gear, which moved all its sales online following the pandemic; however, a large part of hisA Western Canadian work today is about helping, mentoring and inspiring IndigenousPipeline & Facility youth to succeed in business. Ive been speaking on resilience and leadership for about 10 years. It started out with peopleConstruction just wanting to understand my business, but now I am knownCompany.for storytelling and the actionable insights I bring to business audiences and youth, he says. Presently, I do between 70 andPipeline 80 speaking engagements a year, both virtually and in-person.ConstructionIn 2018, I released my book, and Ive coached more than 100Facility Indigenous entrepreneurs across the country. ConstructionNetmaker is focused on ensuring that his legacy and his impactIntegrity Digsendures. Each year, his company Neechie Gear donates aFabricationpercentage of its profits to IndigiFund, an initiative he co-foundedModular that empowers underprivileged youth to take part in sports,Constructioneducation and culture. He also actively volunteers with CandoReclamation, (Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers), a non-profit group that is Indigenous-controlled, community-based,Abandonment & and membership-driven.Pipeline RepairsMaintenanceThrough the groups coaching program, which Netmaker leads, Indigenous youth are motivated to consider the impact ofJoin Our Team: www.vikingprojects.caeconomic development and entrepreneurial mindset on their Aboriginal BUSINESS REPORT85'