It's Our Birthday! Four Years of Thinking Without Limits: Indigenous Box’s Journey Forward

Four years ago today, we signed our incorporation documents. We knew, deep down, that this step would change our lives, but we could never have imagined just how much. The idea behind Indigenous Box was simple yet bold: to think without limits, to create something bigger than ourselves, and to do it in a way that is true to who I am as a nehiyaw (Cree) woman.

From that moment forward, our journey has been full of learning, growing, and reaffirming our commitment to each other and to the communities we serve. The lessons were far from easy. Building an Indigenous business in a world that wasn’t designed for us meant navigating complex systems, breaking barriers, and proving, over and over again, that Indigenous excellence is not just possible; it is here and unstoppable.

Today, Kham, Carlos (our Supply Chain Manager), and I are presenting our five-year strategic plan to our high-performance team. This is a huge milestone for us, and we are filled with optimism, determination, and a deep sense of responsibility to community.

The world is changing rapidly. Global trade is evolving, interprovincial regulations still create barriers, and Indigenous-to-Indigenous (nation-to-nation) trade remains an underdeveloped opportunity. The need to do it in a good way, one that aligns with our values, has never been greater.

But in the face of these complexities, our mission is clear:

• We will create unique solutions to complex problems.

•  We will evolve our supply chain analytics to drive data-informed decisions that empower Indigenous businesses.

• We will create space for regenerative commerce, where Indigenous businesses don’t just sustain themselves, but thrive; where relationships drive long-term value, and where economic success benefits entire communities.

• We will seed intergenerational knowledge, ensuring that the wisdom of those who came before us informs the future of Indigenous trade and business.

• We will lead through this storm with integrity, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to grassroots impact.

Profitability and impact go hand in hand. Indigenous Box has proven that success is not just measured by the bottom line but by the strength of the networks we build, the wealth we circulate within our communities, and the opportunities we create for future generations.

We are not just another business. We are a movement. A movement that is scalable, profitable, and transformational honoring relationships, reciprocity, and the power of Indigenous entrepreneurship to create real, lasting change.

This milestone isn’t just about us, it’s about all of us collectively. Indigenous Box has always been about celebrating one another’s gifts, miyo mikosowin (our creator-given gift), recognizing the brilliance within our communities, and building a future where Indigenous businesses don’t just survive, but thrive.

Recently, I listened to my aunty speak about miyo mikosowin, and it reaffirmed my understanding of our responsibility to community. It reminded me of a powerful question I return to often, one that I ask new suppliers when onboarding and one that I now find myself asking of myself:

“Not who are you, but whose are you?”

This question, from one of my favorite podcast episodes, Two Crees in a Pod’s interview with Grant Bruno, grounds me in the knowledge that our work is not just about individual success. It’s about who we belong to, who we uplift, and the legacy we leave behind. As I reflect on this, my understanding of my responsibility to my community becomes even clearer.

So today, I invite you to join us in this reflection. What is your gift? How can we celebrate it, nurture it, and lift each other up in ways that create lasting impact?

Let’s keep thinking without limits. Let’s build something bigger than ourselves. And let’s do it together. 

êkosi pitamâ