Build Equity
Training & Consulting for Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs
WEB was formed as an answer to the Calls to Action of the 94 points of the Truth and Reconciliation Report. The main focus of WEB is the independent, financially enable Indigenous woman.
The report on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls struck a chord in Faith Hale and Sophia Peltier. Long-time colleagues and like-minded in many ways, Faith and Sophia dedicated many years to the building of Ska:na Family Learning Centre, from a small childcare centre birthed out of the Can-Am Indian Friendship Centre's Head Start Program to a multi-site, urban Indigenous organization operating in three municipalities in Southwestern Ontario.
Deciding to move beyond the focus of Early Years and Early Learning, WEB was formed to work with women of skill and passion who want to build an independent financial life. Research shows that many women do not leave violent domestic situations due to lack of resources. WEB aims to support women creating their own resources. Having a skill, or an idea does not translate into operating a business. Budgeting, accounting/bookkeeping, regulations, reporting and other details are difficult for first time entrepreneurs. WEB works with women to access funds through business plan development to find grants, loans, partners or whatever is needed to become the independent financially sound woman they envision themselves to be.
WEB is able to train and consult in many aspects of Early Learning, Early Childhood Education, Curriculum Development, Program Development and Implementation, High/Scope Philosophy, Literacy, Community Development, including organizations and corporations as well as Indigenous ways of knowing using the teachings of the Medicine Wheel, the Seven Grandfathers, Mino Bimaadziwin.
Training is available through many workshops in Early Learning and education, curriculum and programs developed with the Indigenous knowledge and experience of our consultants. Business development tools such as budgeting, Human Resource policies and procedures and other governance necessities can be made available.
Marketing and advertising consultation is important in this world of instant communication, global services and immediate gratification. WEB incorporates the Indigenous teachings and philosophy of Mino Bimaadziwin to enhance the traditional information and data of the mainstream business world.
Mino Bimaadziwin, "The Good Life" is the basis of SFLC's EarlyON Framework. Working with children and families through the lens of providing the Good Life for all is our philosophy. The tenets of the Good Life - Kindness, Generosity, Truth and Strength (Belief) allow us to develop a training and consulting framework in which to guide individuals, companies and communities to do that which is good in order to develop the whole family, and better communities, through the betterment of our children.
The Seven Stages of the Good Life can be applied to individuals, families, organizations and communities in order to best represent where they are, where they want to be and developing a path to get there. Our facilitators are trained to lead discussions, sharing circles, meetings or other events designed to share information, knowledge and skills in order to develop the Good Life Plan.
The Mission of Women's Equity Business is to assist indigenous women to become independent, financially secure entrepreneurs and develop business and resources to support these women and WEB in our endeavours.
Women's Equity Business is to enable Indigenous women to be safe, successful, contributing members of their community in order to fulfill their lifelong dreams and ambitions.
Women's Equity Business is a partnership between Faith Hale and Sophia Peltier.
Faith Hale, Oda-Naga Badish "Blooming Flowers in Spring", Mandan-Hidatsa the founding Executive Director of SFLC, previously Director of Head Start for Can-Am Indian Friendship Centre (CAIFC). As an RECE, holding a Master of Education and a Bachelor of Education Aboriginal Adult Education, Ms. Hale is President of the CAIFC and Vice-President of the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, serves as a delegate to the Ontario Aboriginal Housing Coalition, National Association of Friendship Centres & Urban Aboriginal Knowledge Network. Ms. Hale works provincially with the Ontario College of Early Childhood Educators and the Progressive Early-learning Aboriginal Centres of Excellence (PEACE) Network. As a consultant, she assists various First Nations, Urban Indigenous communities and leaders.
Sophia Peltier is a founding Board Member of SFLC and has been instrumental in its growth and fiscal viability since 2004. As the CSD, Ms. Peltier is responsible for the accounting, bookkeeping and auditing requirements of all funding, as well as the budgeting, reporting, HR and the governance and legal necessities of operating a non-profit charity. Space facility management, training and consulting, community development, marketing and advertising.
