Indigenous Business Speaker Series
Join the Faculty of Management, students and faculty from across campus, and community members to learn from and engage with local Indigenous business leaders. Connect with us in this ongoing community, together with Indigenous thought leaders to begin, continue and advance the conversation about truth and reconciling for the future.
The Indigenous Business speaker series brings together voices shaping the landscape of Indigenous leadership, entrepreneurship and governance.
Join us as esteemed Indigenous speakers share their compelling narratives, insights, and achievements to learn and explore how Indigenous business is shaping and influencing communities and economic opportunities.
On October 2, 2024, the Faculty of Management will welcome Sharon Bond, CEO Kekuli Cafe Properties, to the Indigenous Business Speaker Series.
Each event in the speaker series is designed in two parts to provide meaningful opportunity for attendees to engage with speakers.
The first part involves a formal keynote presentation, where the speaker shares experiences and insights. The second part is an interactive, facilitated discussion between the speaker, moderator, and participants.
Participants are welcome to attend one or both parts
Program
When: October 2, 2024
Where: University Centre (UNC) 200
10- 11:00 a.m. | Keynote Speaker Sharon Bond-Hogg
11:00-11:30 a.m. | Break & Refreshments
11:30-12:00 p.m. | Facilitated Group Discussion
ABOUT THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Sharon Bond-Hogg: A Trailblazer in Indigenous Entrepreneurship
Sharon Bond-Hogg, a proud member of the Nooaitch First Nation, was born and raised in Merritt, British Columbia. Living in the Okanagan since 1989 and making the community of Westbank her home. Alongside her husband, Darren Hogg, she is the visionary force behind Kekuli Café, a groundbreaking Indigenous fast-casual food and coffee franchise that is becoming a beacon for communities across Canada. Sharon’s twenty-year journey is marked by a rich tapestry of accomplishments and a steadfast commitment to Indigenous entrepreneurship.
Sharon and Darren have created a beautiful business that connects humans and celebrates culture through coffee and Bannock. Sharon has two beautiful children and together, Darren and Sharon share four grandchildren, who are a source of immense pride and joy.
Graduating with an Executive MBA from the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University in 2023, Sharon is the owner and CEO of Kekuli Café Properties Inc. Her passion for creating spaces that celebrate Indigenous culture and cuisine is reflected in Kekuli Café’s mission: providing communities with a place to gather, celebrate, and savour Indigenous foods, particularly the beloved Bannock, accompanied by their delicious Spirit Bear coffee.
Under Sharon and Darren’s leadership, Kekuli Café has become Canada’s first Indigenous fast-casual food franchise. The duo expanded the franchise to Merritt, British Columbia, and Kamloops, BC, with a new business model introduced at Okanagan College in 2022.
Sharon and her dedicated Kekuli Krue have received numerous accolades, including the 2009 ANTCO Indigenous Woman in Business of the Year, the 2010 BC Achievement Indigenous Business of the Year, and the 2020 National Aboriginal Capital Corporation Businesswoman of the Year. She has appeared on many podcasts, and her business was featured on “You Gotta Eat Here” on Food Network Canada. She has also made appearances on APTN’s “Moosemeat & Marmalade,” “Quest Out West with Tracey Bonneau,” and “Crazy Like a Lynx.”
Sharon’s diverse passions include recipe creation, baking, and cooking, as well as sponsoring her baseball team, the Bannock Slappers. As a respected figure in the restaurant industry, she enthusiastically shares her knowledge in business strategy, mentorships, social media, customer service, and business start-up and development. Sharon Bond is a successful entrepreneur and a dedicated advocate for woman and youth in business.
Beyond entrepreneurship, Sharon is deeply involved in promoting Indigenous tourism and economic development, serving on the Indigenous Tourism BC Board of Directors and WFN Economic Development Commission Board. She also contributes her expertise to the NVIT Board of Education for her community Nooaitch Indian Band, Kelowna Women in Business Board, and has mentored many young entrepreneurs through the Futurepreneur Canada mentorship program.
The Indigenous Business Speaker Series is grateful to have the opportunity to partner with Sheldon Louis on the design for the Indigenous Speaker Series. Suʔkncut’s Offering was originally created as part of Peachland “Making Waves” mural project.
About the Artist
Sheldon Pierre Louis is a member of the Okanagan/Syilx Nation, and is a multi-disciplinary Okanagan/Syilx Artist. Sheldon’s ancestral roots have influenced his works in painting, drawing, carving, and sculpting. Sheldon sits on the board of directors for the Arts Council of the North Okanagan in his second term. He also sits on the Board for the Greater Vernon Museum and Archives. His work has been published in the Arts and Council Guide for the North Okanagan 2016 and 2017. Sheldon is a recipient of the First Peoples Cultural Council’s, Emerging Artist Development Award for 2015. He is a co-founder and the lead visual artist of the Kama? Creative Aboriginal Arts Collective and is a member of Ullus Collective, both groups based in Syilx Art. As a member of the Re-Think 150: Indigenous Truth Collective Sheldon has worked on a youth mural in conjunction with the Kelowna Secondary School’s Honours Art 12 class.
Suʔkncut’s Offering was originally created as part of Peachland “Making Waves” mural project.
The Artist’s Statement
This imagery shows a young toddler making an offering to the water and salmon. This imagery speaks to the instilling of traditional protocols and teachings and the passing down of knowledge to our littlest ones. We as adults carry out these protocols of offering tobacco to the water and our little ones watch and mimic and learn. The imagery in the background is some stylized images of Siya (Saskatoon berry) the siya is a representation of youth. This also speaks to the teaching of young ones and also how the future of our water will be cared for by them and carried forward. The salmon in our Syilx culture represents the “getting it done” or “the worker” and so this too speaks to the work and effort that is needed to care for our waters. I only used one salmon image to represent that all it takes is one salmon to come back to reconnect our waters and our people back to the salmon. The red ochre background represents our tulmin which is used for pictographs. The blue represents the water. The orange line across the wall is an Earthline this represents the land/earth. It outlines the young boy to show he and his energy is connected to the earth.
ABOUT THE FACILITATOR
Krystal Withakay (spaxwawlm)
Krystal Withakay (spaxwawlm) is of the syilx nation and is from tsnikstikeptum # 10/ Westbank, BC. She is a devoted syilx artist and knowledge keeper. With over 20 years experience, Krystal continues her advocacy within syilx language and culture as a lifelong learner. Krystal’s artistic abilities and wealth of knowledge are a reflection of syilx mentorship and continued support within her traditional territory.
Past Keynote Speakers
Mic Werstuik
Mic joined the Ntityix Development Corporation (NDC) executive team in summer 2021. As a Westbank First Nation (WFN) Member, he has been actively involved in the evolution and success of WFN and its corporate entities. With over 30 years of experience in all aspects of forestry and natural resource management, Mic is excited to work with WFN Membership and the Ntityix Team to continue to grow future opportunities for both. Since an early age Mic spent most of his time on the land, in 1998 he graduated from Nicola Valley Institute of Technology with a diploma in Natural Resource Management. In 2018, he received his Master of Business Administration degree from Simon Fraser University. In his 30 + year career Mic has run chainsaws, worked for the Ministry of Forests, been an elected Councillor for WFN, been sole proprietor of his own business and held management positions in WFN and other organizations. Mic’s passion is being on the land and working with our people for the benefit of the community.
