Empower Indigenous
Businesses and Entrepreneurs
Advance Sustainable
Development Goals
Foster
Collaboration & Parnterships
Indigenous businesses play a critical role in building a sustainable Blue Economy, yet they face significant barriers to equitable participation.
Limited access to resources and reduced awareness of opportunities restricts the ability of Indigenous businesses to thrive. This lack of support leaves Indigenous entrepreneurs under-resourced and unable to fully contribute their knowledge, leadership, and innovation to a sustainable future.
Samqwane’jk 2.0: Empowering Sustainable Indigenous Innovation
The Samqwane’jk project is dedicated to empowering Indigenous businesses to thrive in the sustainable Blue Economy through breaking down barriers and offering necessary support. By addressing the challenges of limited resources and opportunities, Samqwane’jk provides the tools Indigenous entrepreneurs need to lead the way in building a more sustainable future.
Empower Indigenous
Businesses and Entrepreneurs
Providing training, mentorship, and resources to help Indigenous businesses thrive in the ocean economy.
Advance Sustainable
Development Goals
Aligning activities with SDGs to address challenges like climate change, economic inequality, and community resilience.
Foster
Collaboration & Parnterships
Connecting Indigenous businesses with ocean technology companies and other stakeholders to promote innovation and shared prosperity.
“Samqwane’jk 2.0 is about amplifying Indigenous voices and contributions to the ocean economy while driving progress on critical sustainability issues like climate action, economic equity, and community resilience”
-Paul Langdon, Ulnooweg Development Group
About the Samqwane’jk Project
Samqwane’jk, a Mi’kmaw word “Those Who Love the Water,” reflects the deep connection between Indigenous communities and the ocean.
The Samqwane’jk initiative celebrates that relationship by fostering sustainable practices, partnerships, and entrepreneurship in Atlantic Canada’s ocean sector while advancing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Building on the success of the initial Samqwane’jk project, which connected Indigenous businesses with ocean technology companies and achieved measurable progress toward key SDGs, Samqwane’jk 2.0 continues to celebrate and amplify Indigenous leadership, integrate cultural perspectives, and drive collaborative innovation.
Objectives
- Raise awareness of SDGs and showcase Indigenous contributions through workshops, roundtables, and community roadshows.
- Build and share resources to enhance involvement of Indigenous entrepreneurs and communities in SDGs.
- Engage up to five Indigenous businesses as project participants to receive support tailored to grow and promote each business.
- Integrate Indigenous priorities and ways of knowing at all project stages.
- Build a 20-member networking cohort of Indigenous entrepreneurs for relationship building and access to peer and organizational support.
- Foster partnerships between Indigenous businesses, communities, and the ocean industry while supporting innate project SDGs.
- Measure project outputs and share knowledge nationally and globally.
IOBP and ION
Indigenous Ocean Business Program
Providing Indigenous businesses with expert communications support.
Indigenous Ocean Network
Building a community of entrepreneurs and professionals to advance Indigenous participation and collaboration in Canada’s ocean sector.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
What Are the SDGs?
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global call to action to create a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous world by 2030. These 17 interconnected goals address critical challenges such as poverty, inequality, environmental degradation, and climate change.
Why Do the SDGs Matter to Indigenous Communities?
For Indigenous communities, the SDGs align closely with our traditional values of stewardship, interconnectedness, and sustainable living. By participating in SDG-aligned initiatives, Indigenous businesses and communities can strengthen their leadership in sustainability, contribute to global progress, and enhance their resilience against environmental and economic challenges.
Visit 3d Wave Design’s interactive tool to see Indigenous sustainable development in action.
The Partners
Samqwane’jk is based in Mi’kma’ki, the traditional and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people.
Partially funded by Employment and Social Development Canada(ESDC)
