b'SUCCESS STORYEjesiaks journey with Arctic UAVbusiness is very regulated, so thereup a digital shop, using 3D scanning began as an opportunity seized amidstwere a bunch of things we didntand printing services to create replicas a perceived landscape of establishedexpect that we had to fulfill like per- of archaeological pieces. Now we can practices. We provide drone imag- mitting requirements, he recalls. Itsuse technology to advance our heri-ery to customers, and then shortlya difficult business. I would cautiontage and cultural practices, he says. after we started, we realized therefolks, if you think its an easy business, arent that many companies doingto reach out to people who are doingEjesiaks enthusiasm for the future this, so we embarked on the journeythis so they can avoid the same pitfallsextends to AI. I am excited about try-of becoming a professional imagingwe have encountered along the way. ing to develop language apps where company, he shares. we can use AI as virtual translation Despite being one of the largest droneservices, he says. With a commitment Coming from a background of buildingoperating companies in the country,to cultural preservation, he aims to and renovating houses, Ejesiak rem- Arctic UAV maintains a deliberatelycounter the intrusion of non-Indig-inisces about the transition to dronelow profile. For the longest time, peo- enous entities into the Indigenous technology: When I told my life part- ple didnt know what we do. We docultural space.ner that I am going to focus on drones,have the largest drones for any small she said, Thats great! Less risks, lesscompany, but most people dont seeIn the unfolding success story of Arc-headaches, not realizing the risks andthe stuff we are doing because we trytic UAV, Kirt Ejesiak emerges not just headaches were tenfold. to be in the background without anyas a CEO but as a cultural steward, Arctic UAVs uniqueness lies infuss, Ejesiak notes.navigating the skies of innovation challenging the status quo. EjesiakSafety has been a cornerstone of theirwhile firmly grounded in the values of envisioned a model where local indi- success. Drones can crash; we teachhis Inuit heritage. Its important that viduals operate the drones, while stillall our crew that safety is number one.Canada recognizes and encourages providing top-notch imaging services.You want to make [sure] the chance ofinitiatives like this. Having ownership We wanted to prove that we couldanyone getting hurt is close to zero,of our information and data is so hire locally, provide services by localEjesiak adds. foreign to many companies. Its critical people and be a world-class imagingthat we assert our sovereignty on that company, he emphasizes. A notableEjesiaks passion projects extend be- side of things, he states. We are milestone for Arctic UAV was beingyond the technological realm. He findsshowing by doing. We could talk about the first company in Canada to rentexcitement in creating 3D replicas ofit forever, but it speaks 100 times more the infamous Alma Test Site, a dronetowns and cities in Nunavut. Engagingvolume if we show people whatsite in Qubec located near the Bag- in archaeological art history, he has setwe do.otville area. It was just a brand-new facility then, he states. Building Today. for Future GenerationsArctic UAV secured its first majorAs a proud corporate supporter of NACCA, T.E. Wealths dedicated Indigenous Services contract with the federal government,team provides unbiased advice in the development of customized and comprehensive leveraging the expertise of its capableinvestment and trust solutions including:team. Our guys were very capable [and] could travel in remote areas,Planning and DevelopmentInvestment Manager Search & Selectiontroubleshoot on the fly, solve problemsInvestment Policies & Guidelines Independent Performance Monitoringon the way. What we brought to the table were experts in many areas, Ejesiak explains. Learn MoreHowever, the initial business steps were not without challenges. As weFor more information please contact 1-866-430-0537trudged along, we realized the droneIssue #1, 2024INDIGENOUS PROSPERITY 29'