Team
Michelle Okere, Executive Director (On Parental Leave)
Michelle Okere is a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta with roots in the Red River Settlement in Manitoba and Fort Belknap Indian Reserve in Montana. With a fundraising, advocacy, and strategic planning background, Michelle empowers underserved Indigenous entrepreneurs, particularly women and youth, through training, mentorship, and funding. Her leadership aims to build sustainable businesses that drive Indigenous economic growth. Michelle holds an executive MBA in Indigenous Business Leadership and has been recognized with awards such as Edify Magazine’s Top 40 under 40 and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for her community impact.
Relay Tangie, Acting Executive Director
Relay Tangie is a global finance professional with over 20 years of experience across diverse sectors. As VP of Finance & Partnership Development at the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation and Director of Finance at NACCA, she empowers Indigenous entrepreneurs through strategic leadership, innovation, and financial stewardship. A CPA and Fellow of the ACCA (UK), Relay has launched transformative initiatives like the ADAAWE Indigenous Business Hub and serves on boards including the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and Immigrant Entrepreneurs Canada. Originally from Cameroon, she brings a global perspective to driving Indigenous economic growth.
Marylou Linklater, Communications Officer
Marylou Linklater is a communications professional with over 20 years of experience in media, marketing, and advocacy. As Communications Officer at the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation (IPF), she elevates IPF’s brand through strategic storytelling, media relations, and digital engagement. A nêhiyaw-iskwêw from Treaty Five Territory, Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation, Marylou has worked with APTN, Discovery Channel and CTV and led national initiatives like the NCTR’s educational web series, reaching over 1.5 million viewers. A graduate of Toronto Film School with studies in Aboriginal Justice and Criminology, she brings a powerful voice to advancing Indigenous economic empowerment.
Our Logo
Herons are found across most of Turtle Island and symbolize good fortune, as fishers often associate them with fruitful fishing. It is also believed that the blue heron teaches patience and shares wisdom with those who come across it. This belief is similar to how the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation wishes to support Indigenous women, youth, and early-stage entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship, and access to the right resources for a thriving business. The golden sun symbolizes abundance, hope, and stability as it helps entrepreneurs grow and blossom. The beaded motifs represent the three cultural groups —First Nations, Métis and Inuit— as the people and communities this program aims to connect and support.
