November is Financial Literacy Month, a time to reflect on how financial confidence is built. For many Indigenous entrepreneurs, it starts long before a business plan, with early opportunities to learn about money in ways that feel relevant, practical and rooted in community. One of those opportunities took place this summer in Regina.
In July, the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation (IPF) had the privilege of participating in the 2026 Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship Camp (IYEC), hosted by the First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Bringing together Indigenous youth from across Saskatchewan and Manitoba, the five-day camp provided participants with opportunities to explore entrepreneurship, strengthen leadership skills, and develop business ideas in a supportive and inspiring environment. Through workshops, mentorship, and hands-on activities, youth were encouraged to think creatively, challenge themselves, and discover new possibilities for their futures.
For IPF, the experience was about more than delivering a workshop. It was about building meaningful relationships, listening to young people, and contributing to a space where Indigenous youth could learn, grow, and see their potential reflected back to them.
As part of the camp programming, IPF Program Officer Alejandra Metallic-Janvier facilitated the Money Smarts: My Financial Journey workshop, introducing participants to financial literacy concepts through the interactive Money Smarts board game. Youth explored real-world financial decisions, discussed goals and aspirations, and learned practical money management skills in a fun and engaging way.
The camp’s final report reflected that impact: the majority of participants said the camp strengthened their financial planning skills, and most felt confident they could develop a business plan after attending.
The workshop also provided an opportunity to introduce participants to IPF's programs and resources, while encouraging conversations about entrepreneurship, financial wellbeing, and future pathways.
What made the experience particularly meaningful was the opportunity to participate in the full camp experience. Beyond the workshop, IPF spent time connecting with participants throughout the week, taking part in activities, attending presentations, and celebrating the accomplishments of the young entrepreneurs as they developed and pitched their business ideas.
These moments created opportunities to build genuine connections and gain a deeper understanding of the goals, challenges, and ambitions that Indigenous youth bring to entrepreneurship.
According to Camp Coordinator Jayden Desjarlais, IPF's presence had a lasting impact on both participants and staff:
"Working with Alejandra from Indigenous Prosperity Foundation was something new that the camp had never done before, and it was a 100% success. She brought amazing energy and knowledge and introduced the camp to the Money Smarts board game. We quickly saw how beneficial the game could be for youth and plan to use it in future events and classes."
"The relationships she built with participants and staff were genuine and lasting. She made a positive impression on everyone she met, and we are looking forward to building a meaningful relationship with Alejandra and IPF in the future."
One of the most exciting outcomes of the week was the enthusiasm generated around the Money Smarts board game. Camp organizers identified opportunities to integrate the resource into future youth activities, helping extend financial literacy learning beyond the camp itself.
The experience also opened the door to new conversations about collaboration between IPF and FNUniv, creating opportunities to explore how both organizations can continue supporting Indigenous youth through entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and leadership development.
At IPF, we believe that when Indigenous youth are given access to knowledge, mentorship, and supportive networks, they are empowered to pursue their goals with confidence. Programs like the Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship Camp demonstrate the incredible potential that exists when young people are provided with opportunities to learn, connect, and lead.
We are grateful to the First Nations University of Canada, the camp organizers, volunteers, sponsors, and, most importantly, the youth whose creativity, enthusiasm, and entrepreneurial spirit made the week such a memorable experience.
We look forward to continuing to build relationships with FNUniv and supporting the next generation of Indigenous entrepreneurs, leaders, and changemakers.
IPF’s Financial Literacy and Access to Capital research points to the value of starting early: financial education in the teenage years can mean fewer entrepreneurs learning financial systems under pressure while also running a business. We’ll explore this further on November 25 at Building Financial Confidence: A Fireside Chat, where we’ll talk about how financial learning can begin early and grow through play, culture and community. Register here.
IPF is a charitable organization established by NACCA and Indigenous Financial Institutions across Canada. Its mission is to foster success and empowerment among underserved Indigenous women, youth, and early-stage entrepreneurs through training, mentorship, access to technology, Internet, and seed grants while building capacity within the Indigenous economic development ecosystem.