First-year student Roberta Mistaken Chief took home first-place in the LaunchPoint Pitch Competition, held at the University of Lethbridge.
Three Lethbridge Polytechnic Business students placed in the top four at the competition.
Mistaken Chief is the owner of Niitsitapi Treats and Eats and was awarded the top prize of $2,000.
“Niitsitapi Treats and Eats is my way of sharing delicious Indigenous food with people across southern Alberta who might not have access to it,” Mistaken Chief explains. “Winning this cash prize will really help me purchase new mobile catering and food preparation equipment I need to grow my business.”
Mistaken Chief’s menu includes fry bread, tacos, bannock pizza and pemmican. She already has customers interested in her cuisine, and she hopes to hit the ground running soon.
“I have some initial steps to take, like obtaining a business licence and developing a social media presence, but I’m ready to get out there and interact with my customers,” she says. “I’m excited to talk to people about the food and culture they came to experience.”
All three students accessed support and resources from Lethbridge Polytechnic’s AgENT program to develop their ideas.
AgENT Program Coordinator Josh Leith notes all three of them nailed their pitches. “They just went above and beyond of what was expected.”
