In July 2026, the Indigenous Prosperity Foundation (IPF) brought the Walking Together Tour to Kamloops, on the traditional and unceded territory of the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc, part of the Secwépemc Nation. Over four days, the IPF team took part in a cultural grounding experience, hosted a regional entrepreneurship roundtable, delivered Money Smarts facilitator training, and met with Indigenous Financial Institution and community partners.
The visit began on the land. A guided tour with George Casimir of Interior Indigenous Community Futures gave the team the historical context of the region, its key legal and economic development milestones, and a first look at some of the small businesses supported locally, before anyone sat down at a table.
What emerged from the roundtable was a region with real momentum. Participants agreed that Indigenous entrepreneurs in the Interior have more programs, training, mentorship and capital available to them than ever before, and that partners such as Venture Kamloops, the City of Kamloops, Thompson Rivers University (TRU), BCLC and local Nations are increasingly working together, particularly on procurement.
Yet the abundance of supports has created its own challenge. Entrepreneurs often don't know where to start, turn first to Google, and become overwhelmed. Many struggle to find customers and markets, to access trusted Indigenous professional advisors, and to sustain their businesses after the loan is approved and the first year begins.
This report organizes what we heard into five themes, sets out strategic opportunities for intervention under each, and identifies where IPF can add the most value as a convener and national connector.
Grounding in Place and Relationship
The Kamloops stop of the Walking Together Tour was intentionally grounded in both territory and relationship. The tour's first afternoon was spent not in a boardroom but in a pickup truck, with George Casimir guiding the IPF team through the community.
George's stories spanned childhood, years on council, and his current work supporting entrepreneurs throughout the community. Along the way, he walked the team through the historical context of the region and its key legal and economic development milestones, and pointed out small businesses that he and his team support. The afternoon covered territorial grounding, cultural teachings and history, community priorities, and relationship building.
Why Kamloops
Kamloops serves as a regional hub for the Interior of British Columbia, bringing together Nations, Indigenous Financial Institutions (IFIs), post-secondary institutions, municipal economic development, and a growing base of Indigenous entrepreneurs. It is home to an active network of support organizations, including Interior Indigenous Community Futures, All Nations Trust Company, Venture Kamloops and TRU, which made it an ideal place to understand how a well-resourced ecosystem is experienced by the entrepreneurs it is meant to serve.
The Purpose of Listening
IPF did not come to Kamloops with answers. The purpose was to understand what is actually happening on the ground for Indigenous entrepreneurs in the region: what is working, where the gaps are, and what a strong, supported entrepreneurial ecosystem could look like in the Interior of BC.
What participants shared feeds directly into IPF's cross-tour reporting and into decisions about programming, partnerships, and where IPF invests its energy and resources.
What's Working Well
Participants were clear that the Interior has real strengths to build on:
- More entrepreneurship programs, training, mentorship and capital are available than ever before.
- Collaboration is growing, including Venture Kamloops and the City of Kamloops, regional economic development partners, TRU, BCLC and local Nations.
- Partnerships between IFIs and support organizations help entrepreneurs succeed.
- Coaching, accounting, legal and advisory services are becoming more accessible.
- National organizations such as CANDO and AFOA offer support and endorsement opportunities.
Too Many Doors, No Front Door
The Interior's Indigenous entrepreneurship ecosystem is not short on programs. Participants named a long list of supports they find helpful: Venture Kamloops, TRU Launchpad, First Citizens Fund, Creative BC and arts councils, procurement initiatives through BCLC and local Nations, Money Smarts, local apprenticeship models such as 9th Lab, and IFIs including Interior Indigenous Community Futures and All Nations Trust Company.
The challenge is not availability. It is navigation. Entrepreneurs often don't know where to start, and the first stop for many is a Google search that produces more information than they can use. Many also look for grants before understanding broader business planning requirements.
What We Heard
- Entrepreneurs become overwhelmed by the volume of programs and resources.
- There is no central system or trusted landing page for the region.
- Knowing where to start is a barrier in itself.
- Grant searches often come before business planning and market validation.
- Support organizations face their own capacity constraints.
The conversations in Kamloops describe a region with genuine strengths: committed IFIs, active municipal and post-secondary partners, Nation-led economic development, and entrepreneurs with clear ambition. The challenge is not a lack of opportunity but a gap between the supports that exist and the entrepreneur's ability to find, trust and sustain them.
Participants called for entrepreneurship support to move "from transaction to transformation", shifting from one-off loans and programs to long-term relationships that build intrinsic motivation and lasting growth.
Key Takeaways
- Navigation matters more than new programs. A trusted front door and human guidance would unlock supports that already exist.
- Procurement is the region's clearest opportunity. Collaboration among the City, Nations, TRU and BCLC is in place; bid-readiness is the missing piece.
- Post-care is the critical gap. The first year after financing is where support is most needed and least available.
- Relationships drive success. Trusted advisors, cross-cultural mentors and peer networks turn information into action.
- Place still matters. Entrepreneurs want in-person, community-based spaces alongside digital tools.
- IPF's role is to convene and connect. Partners see IPF as a bridge between regional actors and national networks.