b'SUPPORT & EDUCATIONThrive gave Indigenous-owned busi- Thenesses in Canada that have an activeSTEVEN Shopify online store a chance to be featured in a multi-week shop-ableSTARKad campaign from Shopify on Facebook and Instagram. Indigenous Shopify employees were ableFilmto create the Build Native with Shopify Indigenous Entrepreneurship Program, which is a global Indigenous-led initia-tive that provides aspiring and estab-lished Indigenous entrepreneurs with the tools, resources and connections needed to start, operate and build a self-determining business, St-Amour-Brennan says. We actively work to reduce the barriers to business owner-ship and support the Shopify mission to make commerce better for everyone.While Indigenous entrepreneurs face a host of challenges in their push to go online, there are already some signifi-cant signs that they may soon be able to take a leadership role in e-commerce. Last year, Google Canada teamed up with CCAB to research the unique needs of Indigenous businesses. While the research, conducted by Public First, found that on-reserve businesses haveAn Indigenous Entrepreneurs quest to break the poorer internet connectivity than off- cycle of abuse in his family & community.reserve businessesa finding that prob- To the casual observer, Steven Stark is a remarkable Indigenous success story: ably didnt surprise too many peopleOnce living as a drug addict on the streets of Calgary, Steven is now a proudIndigenous businesses are actuallyfather of four, an elected member of Tsawwassen First Nations legislature, ahead of the pack in using technology.and an entrepreneur whose various ventures complete more than $2.5M in projects each year. But the stable life and safe home that Steven has built for himself and his children are not without its challengesReporting on the research in its Googles Impact in Canada 2021 year-end report, Google Canada noted that 66 per centto learn more, visit our website: stevenstarkfilm.comof Indigenous businesses sell products Aboriginal BUSINESS REPORT 25'