The Bears’ Lair aims to launch Indigenous entrepreneurs

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June Anthony-Reeves, an Indigenous entrepreneur and member of the Secwepemc, Neskonlith First Nation group, by no means dreamed she can be getting into the highlight earlier than a panel of judges on tv to showcase her conventional therapeutic lotions, salves and non secular wellness merchandise.

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However that’s precisely what she did just lately whereas filming an episode of Bears’ Lair, a brand new tv present on the Aboriginal Peoples Tv Community styled after Dragons’ Den and Shark Tank.

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“Essentially the most memorable second was strolling onto the set and seeing all the smiling faces of the Indigenous judges in entrance of me, and to speak about Indigenous methods of being and understanding, and never having to elucidate what that was,” mentioned Anthony-Reeves, who opened her pitch within the Secwepemc language — one thing she had taught herself so as to honour her mom.

“Once I communicate in my conventional language, it helps to calm me, and to floor me,” mentioned Anthony-Reeves, who additionally took a couple of potent whiffs of sage oil earlier than filming, to maintain the nerves at bay.

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At stake for 18 rising and established Indigenous enterprise house owners on the present is a share of $180,000 in prize cash and a possibility for ongoing mentoring and training from distinguished Indigenous enterprise moguls such because the present’s creator Geena Jackson, a member of the shíshálh (Sechelt) First Nation, and Robert Louie, who was simply elected chief of the Westbank First Nation.

Anthony-Reeves can’t reveal whether or not her pitch was profitable — that could be a secret till the present airs this Sunday on APTN — however she mentioned simply being there was a win. “I used to be simply so excited and honoured to be chosen.”

For Anthony-Reeves, being there wasn’t simply to showcase her firm, Up the Hill at Loakin Botanicals, it was additionally to have fun what Indigenous entrepreneurs have to provide.

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“Indigenous persons are doing good issues, and are profitable leaders in enterprise. It was so gratifying to stroll into that room and see the panel of judges who’re all such profitable enterprise leaders in our group,” mentioned Anthony-Reeves.

She began her enterprise 12 years in the past to share conventional Indigenous data and tradition with the world. Though she has studied western herbalism, she first realized about conventional therapeutic medicines whereas harvesting sweetgrass, sage and satan’s membership along with her mom, who had realized alongside her grandmother.

“My mother used to take me and my youthful siblings out on the land within the early spring — what she referred to as a winter picnic. She would level out totally different crops and inform us what the medicines had been.”

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Anthony-Reeves mentioned she felt a kinship with the opposite opponents, and she or he is grateful to the coaches on set who helped her refine her presentation and messaging, in addition to to the “Bears,” who weren’t simply there to evaluate her pitch and her product, however to mentor and encourage.

“It’s reveals like Bears’ Lair that can assist others to acknowledge the excessive worth within the data and tradition of Indigenous folks,” mentioned Anthony-Reeves.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been up to date to mirror that Robert Louie was simply elected chief of the Westbank First Nation.

dryan@postmedia.com