Why Edmonton Voice of resilience

Meet Indigenous entrepreneur Tibetha Kemble (Stonechild).

Tibetha Kemble (Stonechild) works alongside Indigenous Peoples and communities as they advance their own education systems and programs.

She’s the CEO of With People Inc., an Edmonton consulting firm that specializes in Indigenous Peoples education, policy development, collective bargaining, labour relations, human resources and executive coaching.

With People Inc. primarily offers its services to Indigenous-specific organizations and leaders. For one of her clients, Bigstone Cree Nation Education Authority, Kemble (Stonechild) supported and uplifted the executive leadership and administration as they developed a strategic plan for its future. The plan is grounded in the values of their community—the Seven Sacred Teachings—and prioritizes the impact of education based on a foundation of Indigenous knowledges, wisdoms, and languages as opposed to static measures of achievement.

The strategic plan and key action areas are designed to advance and transform education in meaningful ways and that:

meet the identified needs of the communities of Wabasca, Calling Lake, and Chipewyan Lake,
uplift and uphold the Treaty Right to Education,
generate future leaders and community-builders who have the skills and knowledges they need to succeed,
carry forward the rich language, cultures, and traditions to current and future generations.

“We saw this as more than just a scope of work,” says Kemble (Stonechild). “It was an opportunity to listen, engage, and align their vision for education with the aspirations of their community.”

Kemble (Stonechild) also played a role in setting a policy and governance foundation for the Treaty 8 Polytechnic, a post-secondary school, for the Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta. By working closely with Treaty 8 leadership and community members, With People Inc. co-created a vision for a polytechnic that honours and amplifies Indigenous cultures, languages, and traditions.

“Our role was to uplift their inherent knowledges and bring Indigenous ways of knowing and being into the higher education space,” she says.

With People Inc. also partners with non-Indigenous organizations, helping them build inclusive workplaces. “Together, we’ve set the stage for a future where talent is nurtured, and diversity is celebrated,” she says.

Kemble (Stonechild)’s Indigenous heritage has shaped her entrepreneurial approach, particularly through the concept of “relational accountability.” This principle stresses the need to create accountability together, ensuring that those most affected by the decisions being made are included in the process.

“The work that I do has to be meaningful, has to give back in some way, and that the people who receive the work we produce is responsive, respectful, and meaningful,” she says. “If we aren’t doing that, then we aren’t living up to the principles of relational accountability.”

Being an Indigenous business owner comes with its unique set of challenges, such as the burden placed on Indigenous Peoples to educate non-Indigenous peoples. Kemble (Stonechild)’s advice to Indigenous entrepreneurs is to centre their work around communities and people.

“In doing that, we shift into the space of seeing ourselves as part of the larger collective where we can contribute more meaningfully than we could if we did it alone. It becomes less scary and you are able to move forward with assurance that you are doing things in a good way.”