Every year on June 21, communities across Canada mark National Indigenous Peoples Day, a day to recognize and celebrate the cultures, achievements, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples. It’s a time to reflect, to learn, and to celebrate.
For Métis entrepreneurs in British Columbia, it’s also a moment to shine. Business ownership is one of the most powerful tools for long-term success and self-reliance, and Métis people across the province are showing what’s possible when they have the right support.
At the Métis Financial Corporation (MFC), we stand behind these entrepreneurs every day, not just on June 21. But this occasion gives us a special chance to highlight their work and recognize the impact they’re having in local communities.
Métis Entrepreneurship: More Than a Business
For many Métis people, starting a business isn’t just about income. It’s about independence, community, and creating something lasting. It’s about offering services that reflect culture and local needs. It’s about providing jobs and keeping wealth within the community.
From solo tradespeople and artists to tech professionals and small retailers, Métis entrepreneurs in BC are helping shape a stronger, more self-directed future.
Yet many of them face real challenges. Accessing fair funding. Finding business advice that respects cultural identity. Managing responsibilities while learning how to run a company. These are barriers we hear about every day.
That’s why MFC was created, to offer fair, accessible business loans for Métis and help people move forward without being held back by systems that weren’t designed for them.
Economic Self-Determination Is Part of Reconciliation
Economic growth is often seen as separate from cultural strength. But they don’t have to be. Business ownership gives people the ability to choose how they spend their time, earn their income, and share their values. It offers control, stability, and the chance to support others.
For Métis entrepreneurs, this often means:
- Hiring within the community
- Reinvesting in family and youth
- Providing services that reflect Métis ways of thinking and living
- Building long-term stability instead of relying on short-term work
Supporting Indigenous economic development programs, like those at MFC, is one way reconciliation moves from words to action. It’s not about handouts. It’s about providing tools so people can build their own futures, on their own terms.
How MFC Supports Métis Entrepreneurs Year-Round
We know that recognition without real support doesn’t go very far. That’s why we offer funding, planning help, and practical advice for Métis citizens starting or expanding businesses in British Columbia.
Here’s what that looks like:
1. Business Loans Built for Real Life
Our core service is offering Métis business loans in British Columbia. They are competitive, and designed with flexibility in mind. We don’t ask for perfect credit. We look at your plan, your involvement, and your goals.
Whether you’re running a carpentry business in Vancouver or offering childcare services in a rural town in Merritt, we’ll listen and help you find a loan that fits.
2. Business Support
Starting a business can be expensive before you even open your doors. That’s why we help with business supports like:
- Business planning
- Application preparation
- Loan after care support
This kind of Métis entrepreneur support is especially important in regions where other programs are limited or hard to access.
Building More Than Businesses
The impact of these efforts is not always measured in sales or headlines. It shows up in:
- Young people seeing business ownership as a real option
- Clients returning for their second or third loan because they’re growing
- Communities gaining access to services they didn’t have before
- Families getting off unstable income cycles and into lasting work
On National Indigenous Peoples Day, these outcomes deserve just as much celebration as any festival or cultural event.
In fact, they are cultural. They reflect the values of hard work, self-reliance, and community care that Métis people have carried for generations.
What You Can Do to Celebrate
Supporting Métis business doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are a few ways to honour Métis voices in business this June 21, and all year long:
- Shop from a Métis-owned business in your area or online
- Share stories of Métis entrepreneurs you know
- Refer someone to MFC if they’re thinking of starting a business
- Visit our website to explore support options and programs
If you’re a Métis citizen yourself, the best way to celebrate may be to take the first step toward your own business idea.
Want to Start a Business?
Whether you live in a larger city or a smaller community in B.C., you can access funding, tools, and support through MFC.
We work with:
- New entrepreneurs building something for the first time
- Self-employed workers who want to formalize or grow
- People with solid ideas but no access to traditional loans
- Past clients returning for expansion funding
If you’re thinking about getting started, here’s what to do next:
- Visit MFCBC.ca to learn about our loan programs
- Use our contact form to ask a question or schedule a call
- Explore business planning help and see if you qualify for cost coverage
- Talk to us about your goals, even if you’re not ready to apply
You don’t have to do this alone. We’re here to help Métis citizens succeed in business, from idea to launch to long-term growth.
Final Thoughts
National Indigenous Peoples Day is a time to honour the knowledge, work, and resilience of Indigenous people across Canada. For MFC, it’s a chance to highlight the success stories of Métis business owners, and to recommit to the everyday work of helping more people join them.
Across BC, Métis entrepreneurs are solving real problems, building strong futures, and setting examples for the next generation.
They deserve celebration. They also deserve funding, mentorship, and trusted partners who believe in what they’re building.
We’re proud to be one of those partners.
Interested in Métis business funding or support?
Visit MFCBC.ca or contact us directly to start your journey today.
