b'the program. This gave the community the opportunity to meet some of its youngest entrepreneurs. The program took place at Sagamok Anishnawbeks Multi-Educational Centre, which was provided by the administration office. Elephant Thoughts, an education outreach organization that Gegwetch works closely with, provided the equipment and most of the funding. The organization provides training to First Nations commun-ities across Canada in coding and robotics. The goal of this partnership was to help get Mikinaak off the ground. Gegwetch says the feedback from the community has been overwhelmingly positive. The students parents were interested in the equipment students were learning to use. Sagamok is a small community, so word travelled fast about the program. Community members would stop in and ask about the program and equipment used, and expressed interest in attending a future session. Gegwetch feels that the program was a huge success. He says there is now a waiting list for the next round of the program. Phase three of the project will be the construction of a standalone, permanent facility for the hub or MakerSpace. The goal is to run year-round programming and to intro-duce different types of programs in addition to entrepre-neurship. Gegwetch says, It will be a gathering space for creativity and innovation within the community for all ages and abilities. Community members interested in learning more about future programs can visit Mikinaak.ca for updates. press; and a laser engraving, 3D printing machine. The students liked the hands-on training, and being able to build products and learn how to prototype. The first week of the program was Entrepreneurship 101, where students learned about business plans and running a business. It was after the first week when student who came into the program without a business plan started developing one. Students were encouraged to think of business ideas that aligned with their communitys development goals. This was done through in-class exercises that got the students thinking about how to solve real problems in the community.At the end of the program, more than half of the students had a solid business plan and now intend to go into business. Students who didnt develop a business planELEPHANT THOUGHTSduring the program still came out of it with transferableChildrens Education Charity skills to use in future employment. This program gave mePassionate about collaborating with Indigenous a chance to use technology that I have not been able to useeducation partners and schools across Canada to anywhere else. It also taught me about businesses and howsupport high tech education; coaching schools to they work, said one of the program graduates. develop their own digital makerspaces and enable Graduates were given the opportunity to apply for acommunity youth entrepreneurs; interweaving start-up grant of $500 provided by Sagamok Anishnawbek.Indigenous culture and tech in exciting ways for youth.Mikinaak will also be giving a free laptop to students who were approved for the grant.www.elephantthoughts.comThe students participated in a market fair where community members got to see the products and705-444-2012 ext 103lisa@elephantthoughts.comservices offered by the students and to learn more about ISSUE 1 2019C hIEfS ofo ntarIoA dvocAte magazInE l 33'