Speakers

Dr. Bettina Schneider
Camp Coordinator, Program Coordinator,
Associate Professor, Indigenous Business & Public Administration

Jason Bird
Lecturer, Indigenous Business & Public Administration

Dr. Merelda Fiddler-Potter
Program Coordinator (INCA)
Assistant Professor, Indigenous Journalism and Communication Arts; Indigenous Business and Public Administration

Dr. Bob Kayseas
Professor, Indigenous Business and Public Administration

Tim Isnana
Lecturer, Indigenous Business & Public Administration

Thomas Benjoe
Founding Partner – OneHoop
Founding Partner & CEO – FLOWING RIVER CAPITAL

Thomas Benjoe is an Indigenous Business Leader and Entrepreneur from Muscowpetung First Nation. He is currently a Founding Partner & CEO of Flowing River Capital, an Indigenous Private Equity Firm, and Founding Partner at OneHoop, an Indigenous Advisory firm based in Saskatchewan. Through his leadership, he has grown several multi-million dollar investments across multiple sectors using his unique business models and strategy. Those investments were often made with limited resources and capital and in one such investment he started, scaled and sold Saskatchewan’s first Indigenous tech company for an 1,150% return. A most recent 100% acquisition of Marshall Land Systems in November 2025 became the largest Indigenous owned defence business in the country and a major Canadian owned prime.

Thomas also leads several strategies in Indigenous Engagement, Procurement, Indigenous HR, and Investments. Through the strategies he has built he has helped to unlock many new opportunities for Indigenous business to thrive and Indigenous talent to be built sustainably.

Thomas currently serves on the Board of Directors at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Board of Director of Economic Development Regina, Member of Regina Growth Board, and member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders Indigenous Task Group. He also serves on the board of Pathway Supply, Reconciliation Education and Marshall Land Systems.

Thomas received the King Charles III Coronation Medal & Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for contributions to Business & Commerce, was a finalist for the 2023 CANDO Economic Developer of the Year Award, was recognized in The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business Magazine as a Top 50 Changemakers in Canada, and was recognized as one of the Top 10 Most Influential Economic Developers by Treaty 4 News.

Thomas also served as United Way “Community Champion”, the recipient of the Crowning Achievement Young Alumni Award from the University of Regina, recognized by CBC’s “Future 40”, the Red Cross’ “Young Humanitarian of the Year”, and a “Top Performer” Convention Winner which recognizes the top 1% of RBC employees. 

Jill Ruep (Fiddler) 
Creator of Ma Fii Lii Rasaad My Daughter’s Beads 

Jill Ruep is the founder and creator of Ma Fii Lii Rasaad (“My Daughter’s Beads” in Michif), an Indigenous-led beading app and creative business rooted in Saskatchewan. A registered Métis citizen, Jill is committed to preserving Indigenous teachings, storytelling, and cultural creativity through traditional beadwork and modern technology. 

She is on track to become one of the first Indigenous entrepreneurs in North America to develop a beading app centered entirely on Indigenous content. Built in partnership with computer science students, Ma Fii Lii Rasaad represents a meaningful collaboration that blends technical innovation with cultural guidance. Together, they are creating an accessible platform where users can design custom beading patterns while learning the stories, teachings, and cultural context carried within the work. This partnership brings Jill’s vision to life while offering students real-world experience contributing to an Indigenous-led initiative. 

Beyond the app, Jill has grown Ma Fii Lii Rasaad into a vendor market-ready business specializing in scalable beading kits for conferences, classrooms, and team-building experiences. She has facilitated workshops across Saskatchewan and shared her work at community events, powwows, and cultural gatherings. 

Through Ma Fii Lii Rasaad, Jill is building a sustainable, culturally grounded business that weaves together technology, education, and hands-on creativity— expanding access to Indigenous beading and meaningful shared experiences.

Mallory Yawnghwe
Co-Founder, Co-CEO – Indigenous Box

Mallory Yawnghwe is a dynamic force in the worlds of entrepreneurship and community engagement, leveraging her extensive experiences, deep community ties, and education to drive positive change. As the Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Indigenous Box, Mallory champions Indigenous businesses and nurtures meaningful connections within and between Indigenous communities and corporate Canada. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Supply Chain Management from MacEwan University and was the first Indigenous person in Canada to hold the S.C.M.P. designation.

Mallory is highly respected in business and community circles, having consulted on a wide range of initiatives, including those with the Indigenous Women in Community Leadership’s Circle of Abundance, Fort Edmonton Park’s Indigenous Peoples Experience, MacEwan University’s Centre for Supply Chain Excellence, the Royal Alberta Museum, Supply Chain Canada, Global Affairs Canada, the Government of Alberta, the University of Waterloo, and Edmonton Global. She has also provided insights in advisory meetings with various Canadian government officials and leaders in employment, workforce development, and disability inclusion.

Mallory and Indigenous Box also acted as the primary advisor to the Trade Commissioner Service on the first Indigenous and Northern Artists and Makers Directory – a compendium of Canadian companies from across Western Canada and the territories that will allow officers at Canada’s 160 missions abroad to connect them with foreign buyers and partners.

Recently Mallory was invited to speak about Indigenous Box’s unique economic development model at The World Economic Forum in Peru, and at the G20 Summit in Brazil.

Alejandra Metallic-Janvier
Programs Officer – Indigenous Prosperity Foundation

Alejandra Metallic-Janvier is a Mi’gmaq and Dene Suline woman from Listuguj Mi’gmaq First Nation and Cold Lake First Nation. An honours graduate in Neuroscience and Mental Health from Carleton University, she is dedicated to building meaningful partnerships and creating opportunities for knowledge sharing.

As a Program Officer at the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation, she oversees partnership development and supports the national delivery of the Money Smarts financial literacy program, working alongside Indigenous communities and partners to advance economic empowerment and financial well-being. Her diverse background in education, clean energy, and program coordination has strengthened her expertise in relationship management, facilitation, and program development.