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IBG Presents Logo

PRESENTS

Indigenous Biz Con V logo
Hoan Bridge
Supaman
Gary Farmer
Chris
jhane meyer

BUILDERS.

INNOVATORS.

LEADERS.

Oct. 11-13, 2026

Potawatomi Casino & Hotel

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Welcome to IBC V, the 5th Annual Indigenous Biz Con!
 

Hosted by the Indigenous Business Group, IBC V brings together Tribal leaders, entrepreneurs, business owners, government agencies, corporate partners, investors, and economic development professionals from across the country to strengthen Indigenous economies through collaboration, innovation, and opportunity.
 

Over two days, attendees will engage in inspiring keynote presentations, educational breakout sessions, networking opportunities, an exhibitor marketplace, and conversations centered on Indigenous business, procurement, entrepreneurship, workforce development, access to capital, and economic sovereignty.

Indigenous Biz Con V logo

2026 AGENDA

  • Explore Indigenous Milwaukee (Optional)
    Indigenous Roots. Iconic Milwaukee. A City Building What’s Next.

    Make Milwaukee part of your IBC experience. Throughout your visit, explore the Indigenous history, iconic institutions, global companies, neighborhoods and new developments that tell the story of a city built on culture, industry, innovation and community.

    3:00 PM – 6:00 PM

    Curated self-guided experiences featuring:
    ​

    • Indigenous Milwaukee - Visit Wgema Campus, the Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center, Indian Community School and other Native institutions that demonstrate the longstanding and contemporary Indigenous presence in the region.

    • Made in Milwaukee — Experience Harley-Davidson Museum®, the only Harley-Davidson Museum in the world, with opportunities for guided experiences and behind-the-scenes tours that tell the story of a Milwaukee company that became a global brand.

    • Brew City — Milwaukee's brewing history remains part of its identity. Consider the Miller Brewery Tour or experience the city's modern craft-brewing culture at places such as Lakefront Brewery.

    • Milwaukee Sports — Explore American Family Field Tours, home of the Milwaukee Brewers, or visit the Deer District® surrounding Fiserv Forum and the Milwaukee Bucks.

    • Classic Milwaukee — Experience the Historic Third Ward, Milwaukee Public Market, Milwaukee RiverWalk | Downtown’s East Bank and Milwaukee Art Museum.

    • Milwaukee on the Water — Walk the Lake Michigan shoreline through Lakeshore State Park and explore the lakefront, harbor and waterways that have connected people, trade and commerce here for generations.

    • See What's Next — Spend time in the Third Ward, Deer District, Menomonee River Valley and Milwaukee's evolving downtown. These districts bring together entertainment, hospitality, sports, business and redevelopment and offer a glimpse of where the city is headed.

      Explore the roots. Tour the companies. Experience the neighborhoods. Support local and Native businesses. See how Milwaukee's history, industry and innovation continue to shape what comes next.
       

    Packers vs. Bears Watch Party and Opening Gathering

    6:00 PM – 11:00 PM at Potawatomi Sportsbook
    An informal opening experience welcoming attendees from across Indian Country.

    • Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears watch party

    • First-time attendee welcome

    • Sponsor hospitality

    • Tribal and business networking

    • Speaker and special guest introductions

    • Registration and conference orientation
       

    Registration, Exhibitor Move-In & Welcome Networking Reception
    Ahman Green Meet & Greet at Potawatomi Sportsbook

    6:00 PM – 10:00 PM

    • Conference registration

    • Exhibitor and sponsor setup

    • Speaker and VIP check-in

    • Indigenous Marketplace preview

    • Business Matchmaking Lounge

    • Informal networking and hospitality

  • Registration • Breakfast • Marketplace

    8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

    • Continental breakfast

    • Indigenous Marketplace opens

    • Sponsor and exhibitor networking

    • Business Matchmaking Lounge opens

    • Live Indigenous artist begins conference installation

    • Speaker and VIP hospitality
       

    Opening Ceremony - The Indigenous Renaissance Begins!

    9:00 AM – 9:30 AM

    Hosted by IBG Team

    • Grand Entry

    • Color Guard

    • Veterans Honor Song

    • Drum - Fire Nation

    • Invocation - Clayton Winneshiek

    • Forest County Potawatomi welcome (Brooks Boyd, Ken George)

    • Recognition of elders, veterans, tribal leaders, elected officials, and special guests

    • Welcome from Indigenous Business Group founders

    • Marketplace ribbon cutting
       

    Renaissance Opening Performance

    9:30 AM – 9:45 AM

    Supaman​
     

    Opening Keynote - Intro by  Ken George Jr.

    9:45 AM – 10:15 AM

    Gary Farmer

    Owning Our Stories.  Building Our Future.
     

    Morning Networking Break

    10:15 AM – 10:25 AM

    Coffee Break

    Marketplace

    Networking
     

    General Session I: State of Indigenous Business & Indian Country

    10:25 AM – 11:15 AM

    A high-level discussion with tribal, state, and federal leaders examining the policy, investment, and economic conditions affecting Indian Country.

     

    General Session II: Building the Next Generation Economy

    11:15 AM – 12:00 PM

    Indigenous leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, developers, and strategic partners discuss how Indian Country is creating diversified economies beyond gaming.
    Topics

    • Infrastructure, Energy, Natural Resources, Transportation

    • Gaming history, mobile sports betting, prediction market, future gaming interests

    • Tribal and Native-owned business partnerships

    • Cannabis and Hemp movement in Indian Country and Wisconsin

    • Investment in Indian Country operators

    • Innovation and industry development - AI, Data Centers

    • Community Investment

    • Film and entertainment

    • Beloit Casino highlights
       

    Networking Lunch & Business Showcase

    12:00 PM – 1:15 PM

    Leonard Peltier Doc Trailer -  Introduce and acknowledge Jhane Myers (10 minutes)

    1st fireside - Ahman Green, Rob Pero moderator

    2nd fireside - Samantha Skenandore, Margaret Rose, Jean Marie Thiel, Carla Vigue, Alexis Harris; Stephanie Taylor Moderator 

    • Sponsor recognition

    • Marketplace and artisan shopping

    • Business matchmaking

    • Live art demonstration

    • Procurement and investment introductions

    • Native business showcase and biz pitch
       

    Indigenous Renaissance Forums I - Building Nations

    1:30 PM – 2:15 PM
    Three concurrent 45-minute sessions

    Forum A - Prosperity Room - Nation Building & Tribal Economic Development

    Forum B - Inspire Room - Infrastructure, Housing, and Community Development

    Forum C - Clarity Room - Capital, Procurement, and Government Contracting
     

    Networking Break

    2:15 PM – 2:25 PM
     

    Indigenous Renaissance Forums II - Building Communities

    2:35 PM – 3:10 PM

    Three concurrent 45-minute sessions

    Forum D - Inspire Room - Powering Sovereignty: Energy & Sustainability

    Forum E - Clarity Room - Indigenous Entrepreneurship & Innovation

    Forum F - Prosperity Room - Healthcare, Cannabis & Indigenous Wellness - ICIA
     

    Networking Break

    3:10 PM – 3:20 PM
     

    General Session III: Break on through to the other side - Open Discussion on Prediction Markets, Mobile Sports Betting, future of gaming

    3:20 PM – 4:00 PM

    Noted Speakers from:

    • Tribal governments

    • Tribal enterprises

    • Native-owned businesses

    • Corporations

    • Investors

    • State and federal agencies

    • Nonprofit and community organizations
       

    Tribal Leadership Roundtable

    4:00 PM – 4:30 PM

    A forward-looking conversation with tribal leaders and invited elected officials.

    Focus areas:

    • Sovereign economic development

    • Legislative priorities affecting Indian Country

    • Tribal-state and federal relationships

    • Infrastructure investment

    • Supporting Native-owned businesses

    • Regional and national collaboration

    • Preparing future generations to lead
       

    Monday Business Programming Concludes - IBG leadership and DJ Element lead us out

    4:30 PM
     

    Indigenous Peoples Day Celebrations

    5:45 PM – 9:30 PM

    3 Subsessions

    Transportation & Gathering - 5:45 PM – 6:15 PM

    Hoan Bridge Lighting Ceremony - 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM

    Indigenous Rising Reception - 7:15 PM – 9:30 PM

  • Indigenous Peoples' Day Celebration

    ​

    Transportation & Gathering - 6:00 PM
     

    Hoan Bridge Lighting Ceremony - 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM
    A community celebration recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Indigenous visibility in Milwaukee.

    • Tribal and community gathering

    • Drum and cultural acknowledgments

    • Invited remarks

    • Media and photography

    • Hoan Bridge lighting
       

    Indigenous Rising Reception - Rock & Brews - 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
    Sponsored by Potawatomi Casino

    A signature Indigenous Renaissance celebration featuring:

    • Networking

    • Heavy hors d’oeuvres and beverages

    • Sponsor hospitality

    • Indigenous artists and marketplace activations

    • Live art

    • Cultural celebration   - Supaman performance

    • Special guest recognition


    Featured Entertainment

    SUPAMAN 

    A special performance blending music, dance, storytelling, humor, culture, and contemporary Indigenous expression.

  • Breakfast, Marketplace & Networking

    7:30 AM – 9:00 AM

    • Breakfast

    • Indigenous Marketplace

    • Business matchmaking

    • Sponsor networking

    • Procurement and investment meetings

    • Live art installation

    • Yoga and breathing

    • Sound bath

    • Smudge session

    • DJ session to inspire featuring DJ sleezyZ


    Morning Welcome & Blessing

    9:00 AM – 9:30AM

    • Day One recap

    • Speaker and sponsor recognition

    • Overview of Tuesday programming


    Morning Keynote - Chris James - NCAIED

    9:30 AM – 10:00 AM


    Public Law 280 Update

    10:00 AM – 10:15 AM


    Heaving Networking

    10:15 AM – 10:30 AM


    General Session IV - Innovation Across Indian Country - Data Centers, AI, Tech, Sustainability
    10:30 AM - 11:00AM
    A cross-industry discussion examining how Indigenous nations and businesses are creating opportunity in emerging and expanding sectors.

    Featured industries may include:

    • Artificial intelligence and technology - Data Centers

    • Manufacturing

    • Infrastructure

    • Healthcare

    • Energy

    • Tourism and hospitality

    • Media, film, and communications
       

    Networking Break

    11:00 AM – 11:15 AM


    Indigenous Renaissance Forums III

    11:15 AM – 12:00 PM

    Innovating Industries

    Three concurrent 45-minute sessions

    Forum G - Prosperity Room - Native business certifications and the future of procurement

    Forum H - Inspire Room - Media, Film & Indigenous Storytelling

    Forum I - Clarity Room - Manufacturing, Trade & Supply Chains- Global Supply Logistics


    Networking Lunch

    12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

    • Business Pitch Competition finals

    • Indigenous Marketplace

    • Sponsor recognition

    • Corporate procurement tables

    • Investor and lender introductions

    • Live art reveal

    • Native business and entrepreneur spotlights


    Featured Fireside Conversation - Storytelling, Film & the Indigenous Renaissance
    12:30 PM – 1:15 PM

    Featuring Jhane Myers, Supaman, Gary Farmer, Jonathan Thunder, Samantha Skenandore (moderator), and invited leaders from Indigenous film, media, communications, and the creative economy.


    Indigenous Renaissance Forums IV

    1:45 PM – 2:30 PM

    Leading the Future

    Three concurrent 45-minute sessions

    Forum J - Clarity Room - Food Sovereignty, Agriculture & Natural Resources

    Forum K - Prosperity Room - Workforce, Skilled Trades & Next Generation Leadership

    Forum L - Inspire Room - Partnerships for the Future
     

    Networking Break

    2:30 PM – 2:40 PM
     

    Closing General Session

    2:40 PM – 3:30 PM

    The Indigenous Renaissance Continues

    A conference-wide conversation connecting the themes and opportunities from all four Renaissance Forum rounds.

    Featuring invited participation from:

    • Indigenous Business Group leadership

    • Tribal leaders

    • Forum moderators

    • Entrepreneurs

    • Special guests

    • State and federal partners


    Discussion will include:

    • Lightning talks - 2 min elevator pitch from attendees

    • Key conference takeaways

    • Priority opportunities

    • Regional collaboration

    • Commitments for the coming year

    • The next five years of Indigenous business leadership

    • IBC VI preview
       

    Conference Closing

    3:30 PM – 4:00 PM

    • Business Pitch Awards

    • Sponsor appreciation

    • Special recognitions

    • Prize drawings

    • Closing prayer or reflection

    • Final remarks from Indigenous Business Group leadership

  • Indigenous Business Awards Reception

    6:00 PM – 6:45 PM

    • Red carpet

    • Networking

    • Photography

    • Sponsor hospitality

    • Indigenous Marketplace and artisan shopping
       

    Ballroom Seating

    6:45 PM - 7:00 PM


    Indigenous Business Awards Gala

    7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

    Hosted by Jana Schmeidling

    Featuring:

    • Dinner

    • Cultural entertainment

    • Special guest appearances

    • Business Pitch Competition recognition

    • Indigenous Business Awards

    • Closing celebration

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