Workshops & Conferences

Inspiring Connections. Practical Tools.

"I just wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you to the NEDC team for the amazing opportunity to attend the IYE Workshop in Tofino. It was such an inspiring and empowering experience to be surrounded by like-minded peers who, like me, are eager to learn more about entrepreneurship. The supportive environment made it easy for us to connect, exchange ideas, and even explore potential collaborations. Thank you again for making this possible and for all the work you do to support Indigenous entrepreneurs. I'm feeling more motivated than ever and grateful to be part of this community." - Nikki Robertson

Upcoming Events

Join us for hands-on workshops and conferences designed to empower Indigenous business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. Learn from Indigenous business experts about entrepreneurship, business planning, financing options, and more—all in a supportive, community-driven environment.

Current Month

June

09junAll Day10IYE Tofino Workshop

11junAll Day12IWE Tofino Workshop

24jun10:00 am2:00 pmGrow, Connect, ThriveGrow, Connect, Thrive

Previous Events

Here are the events we've held in the past year

Current Month

November 2024

07nov9:00 am3:00 pmGovernance Workshop

Event Details

A citizen of the Navajo Nation, Dr. Manley Begay Jr’s major specialization lies at the heart of issues pertaining to Indigenous Nation-Building: Sovereignty, Governance, Culture, Leadership, Education, and Economic Development.

Professor Begay is recognized nationally and internationally as one of the primary planners and designers of the now-accepted theory of how Indigenous nations and communities build nations that work—Indigenous Nation-Building.

Time

November 7, 2024 9:00 am - 3:00 pm(GMT-08:00)

Location

Tigh-na-mara Resort

1155 Resort Dr

800-663-7373

Other Events

Calendar GoogleCal

Organizer

NEDC

Nuu-Chah-Nulth Economic Development Corporation (NEDC) in partnership with Indigenous Business Development Services (IBDS)

Learn More

Speakers for this event

Dr. Manley Begay

Schedule

November 7, 2024
9:00Opening and Prayer9:00 - 9:15
9:15
Session 1: Overview of Indigenous Nation-Building Renaissance: Keys to Success
9:15 - 9:45
Most First Nations are poor—but not all of them are. Why are some First Nations more successful than others?
Key findings and conclusions of recent research
Speakers
Dr. Manley Begay
9:45
Session 2: Twenty-five Years from Now…
9:45 - 10:15
What kind of nation or community do you hope to have?
What gets in the way?
What assets or strengths does your Nation have that can help meet those challenges?
Speakers
Dr. Manley Begay
10:15Break10:15 - 10:30
10:30
Session 3: Making First Nation Economies Work, Part 1 – Community-Owned Enterprises
10:30 - 11:15
Making community-owned enterprises successful
The importance of good structures and processes
Speakers
Dr. Manley Begay
11:15
Session 4: Case Study: Building Community-Owned Enterprises at Osoyoos
11:15 - 12:00
How they became successful
Organizing, organizing, organizing
Speakers
Dr. Manley Begay
12:00Lunch12:00 - 13:00
13:00
Session 5: Making First Nation Economies Work, Part 2 – Citizen Entrepreneurship
13:00 - 13:45
The role of citizen entrepreneurship in economic strategy and Nation Building
What First Nations can do to support citizen entrepreneurs
Speakers
Dr. Manley Begay
13:45Break13:45 - 14:00
14:00
Session 6: Changing Paths: How Do You Move from the Standard Approach to Nation-Building?
14:00 - 14:45
Which approach to economic and community development are you currently pursuing?
Planning how to move from the Standard Approach to the Nation-Building approach
Speakers
Dr. Manley Begay
14:45Wrap-up and Closing Prayer14:45 - 15:00

March 2025

25marAll Day26IWE VICTORIA WORKSHOPEmpowering Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs: A 2-Day Workshop for Growth and Inspiration!

Event Details

Calling all Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs in Victoria!
Join us for a transformative 2-day workshop created to help you elevate your business. Whether you’re just starting to plan or looking for the tools to expand, these sessions are tailored to meet your needs.

Topics include:

Business Planning: this is essential no matter what stage of business you are in. A business plan explains your business and provides a roadmap of where your business is going – in business language of course! This session will cover the main sections of a business plan and business planning tips.

Marketing Basics: sounds like an oxymoron as there is nothing basic about marketing! Nonetheless, this workshop will cover basic marketing including strategies and techniques to promote products and services to potential customers.

Cash Flow: we’ve all heard the expression that cash is king! Well, it’s true. Every business owner knows that! Yet cash flow challenges are still a common reason that businesses get in trouble. Join us to learn how to avoid common pitfalls and how to better manage cash flowing through your business.

Budgeting: crucial for maintaining financial health and ensuring growth. This workshop will go over the basics of budgeting for a business. By establishing and sticking to a solid budget, businesses can ensure they remain profitable and grow sustainably.

Time

March 25, 2025 - March 26, 2025 (All Day)(GMT-07:00)

Location

Victoria

463 Belleville St

2507358871 mary@nedc.info

Other Events

Calendar GoogleCal

RSVP to This Event

RSVPing is closed at this time.

Can not make it to this event?Change my RSVP

Organizer

Mary Finch

Learn More

Victoria

463 Belleville StThe hotel Grand Pacific

Victoria

Speakers for this event

Caledonia Glendale

Trainer & Consultant

Inisa Consulting & Training Services

27marAll Day28IWE DUNCAN WORKSHOPEmpowering Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs: A 2-Day Workshop for Growth and Inspiration!

Event Details

Calling all Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs!
Join us for a transformative 2-day workshop created to help you elevate your business. Whether you’re just starting to plan or looking for the tools to expand, these sessions are tailored to meet your needs.

Topics include:

Time

March 27, 2025 - March 28, 2025 (All Day)(GMT-07:00)

Location

Duncan

6474 Trans Canada Highway

250-735-8871 mary@nedc.info

Other Events

Calendar GoogleCal

RSVP to This Event

RSVPing is closed at this time.

Can not make it to this event?Change my RSVP

Organizer

Mary Finch

Learn More

Duncan

6474 Trans Canada HighwayBest Western Cowichan Valley Inn

Duncan

Speakers for this event

Caledonia Glendale

Trainer & Consultant

Inisa Consulting & Training Services

April 2025

23apr9:00 am12:00 pmAI Applications WorkshopMastering Everyday AI with Trevor Bruintjes

Event Details

Mastering Everyday AI with Trevor Bruintjes

Event Description:
Discover how to harness the power of artificial intelligence in your personal life and business at this workshop led by AI strategist Trevor Bruintjes. Learn practical tools and strategies to save time, boost efficiency, and increase profitability.

What You’ll Learn

This session will give you practical, hands-on knowledge you can use immediately:

What generative AI is and why it matters
How to use prompts that get great results
Real examples of AI tools in action (writing, images, planning, analysis, more)
How to separate the hype from what actually helps
Key do’s and don’ts when working with AI
Simple steps to start using AI in your work or personal lifeA framework to “See it, Plan it, Use it” so AI becomes useful, not overwhelming

Who Should Attend

This is for anyone ready to move from curiosity to confidence with AI:

New users who want a clear, jargon-free introduction to AI
Busy professionals who want to save time and get more done
Business owners or team leaders looking for practical ways to integrate AI
Seasoned users who want to sharpen their prompting skills and use AI more strategically
Anyone feeling left behind and ready to catch up, fast

Whether you’re brand new or already dabbling with AI, you’ll leave this session with clarity, direction, and tools you can use right away!

Time

April 23, 2025 9:00 am - 12:00 pm(GMT-07:00)

Calendar GoogleCal

Organizer

NEDC

Nuu-Chah-Nulth Economic Development Corporation (NEDC) in partnership with Indigenous Business Development Services (IBDS)

Learn More

Speakers for this event

Trevor Bruintjes

AI Specialist & Business Consultant

Peaks and Valleys AI Strategies

Upcoming Events

Join us for hands-on workshops and conferences designed to empower Indigenous business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. Learn from Indigenous business experts about entrepreneurship, business planning, financing options, and more—all in a supportive, community-driven environment.

Time

Tofino

Speakers for this event

Alissa Assu

Get Directions

Time

Tofino

Speakers for this event

Caledonia Glendale

Get Directions

Time

Location

Best Western Plus Barclay Hotel

Get Directions

Previous Events

Here are the events we've held in the past year

Event Details

Event Details

Time

Location

Organizer

Speakers for this event

Dr. Manley Begay

Schedule

Get Directions

Event Details

Event Details

Time

RSVP to This Event

Organizer

Victoria

Victoria

Speakers for this event

Caledonia Glendale

Get Directions

Event Details

Event Details

Time

RSVP to This Event

Organizer

Duncan

Duncan

Speakers for this event

Caledonia Glendale

Get Directions

Event Details

Event Details

Time

Organizer

Speakers for this event

Trevor Bruintjes

Thriving Nations Conference

NEDC Business Awards