About Us
Bears’ Lair Indigenous Strategies is an Indigenous-owned consulting firm that works alongside Indigenous communities, governments, corporations, and non-profits to support community-led economic and social development. We provide strategic advisory, funding and proposal support, partnership development, and project planning services that align with community values, governance, and long-term goals. Our work focuses on creating practical pathways for Indigenous participation, ownership, and sustainable growth across projects and sectors.
Our Impact in Numbers
$250 Million+
in awarded grant funding
$2 Billion+
in completed construction projects
300+
partnered communities
Working Across Community, Industry, and Government
Bears’ Lair Indigenous Strategies works at the intersection of Indigenous community priorities and external systems such as industry, government, and funding institutions. Our approach is grounded in partnership, accountability, and strategies that respect Indigenous governance, culture, and long-term vision.
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Our Values
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Integrity
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Community
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Collaboration
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Lasting Impact
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Innovation
Our Method
Our comprehensive approach to project planning and management. Our team will demonstrate collaborative decision-making through transparency, which when properly aligned with the project values, further reinforces team trust, and will provide momentum to obtain high-performance solutions.
PLAN
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Housing Development
Community Development
Our Method
Our comprehensive approach to project planning and management. Our team will demonstrate collaborative decision-making through transparency, which when properly aligned with the project values, further reinforces team trust, and will provide momentum to obtain high-performance solutions.
The Leadership Team
GEENA JACKSON
President
Geena Jackson is a proud member of the shíshálh Nation (Sechelt) and an advocate for Indigenous rights and self-determination. With over 25 years of experience in economic development and industry leadership, she has supported more than 750 Indigenous entrepreneurs in growing their businesses. She is also the creator and host of Bears’ Lair TV and Bears' Lair Dream Camps, a national platform for Indigenous entrepreneurship and Indigenous youth entrepreneurship camps.
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Kimberly Buffitt
Community Funding Specialist
Kimberly Buffitt is an experienced community and economic development leader with over 20 years of experience across Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in Canada. She specializes in building partnerships, securing funding, and delivering high-impact programs that strengthen communities.
douglas keen
Project Manager
Douglas is a proud Red River Métis and a member of the Métis Nation of Ontario. Through his work with Indigenous Initiatives Inc., he supports Indigenous-led economic development, clean energy initiatives, and community capacity building by strengthening partnerships between Indigenous communities, industry, and government.
OUR PARTNERS
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Bears’ Lair Indigenous Strategies was born from a simple but powerful idea: when Indigenous entrepreneurs and communities have access to the right support, partnerships, and opportunities, they build thriving economies on their own terms.
The Bears' Lair Beginnings
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That idea first came to life through Bears’ Lair TV, a national Indigenous-led business competition series aired on APTN, CBC, and Air Canada in-flight entertainment. The show brings Indigenous entrepreneurs from across the country together to share their stories, grow their ventures, and compete for a $100,000 grand prize. More importantly, it demonstrates that Indigenous entrepreneurship is rooted in community impact, cultural continuity, and collaboration.
Bears' Lair Dream Camps
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Investing in the Future of Indigenous Entrepreneurship
As the show grew, so did the need to support the next generation of leaders. That momentum led to the creation of Bears’ Lair Dream Camps, free 3-day entrepreneurship camps delivered in Indigenous communities across Canada. Dream Camps introduce youth aged 11–18 to entrepreneurship, leadership, teamwork, and financial literacy, helping them build confidence and see new possibilities for their futures. Together, Bears’ Lair TV and Dream Camps have supported hundreds of entrepreneurs and thousands of youth across the country.
Bears’ Lair Indigenous Strategies (BLIS) represents the next evolution of this work.
BLIS brings the same relationship-driven approach from the Bears’ Lair ecosystem into community planning, economic development, infrastructure projects, energy development, and partnership building. Working alongside Indigenous communities, industry partners, and government, BLIS helps turn community vision into funded, deliverable projects that create long-term impact.
Together, Bears’ Lair TV, Dream Camps, and BLIS form a connected ecosystem — from inspiring youth, to supporting entrepreneurs, to advancing community-led development. Each part strengthens the others, creating pathways for Indigenous leadership, economic growth, and lasting opportunity.