For Marc Forgette, entrepreneurship is not simply a career path — it is a calling rooted in identity, responsibility, and relationship. An Anishinaabe entrepreneur, speaker, and cultural educator from Apitipi Anicinapek Nation and a member of the Bear Clan, Marc is the founder of Makatew Inc., which includes Makatew Workshops, Makatew Speaks, and Makatew Consulting. Through these offerings, he creates spaces where learning is experiential, dialogue is encouraged, and reconciliation is approached with care, honesty, and respect. 

Marc’s journey into entrepreneurship began alongside a deeply personal process of reconnection. As he reclaimed his Anishinaabe identity, he felt a growing responsibility to create environments where people could learn about Indigenous culture in ways that felt safe, welcoming, and free from judgment. What started as a single workshop quickly revealed a larger need. Organizations, institutions, and communities were seeking authentic and meaningful ways to engage with Indigenous teachings, and Marc recognized that his voice, lived experience, and approach could help bridge those gaps. Makatew was born from that realization — a business grounded in purpose, designed to support understanding one conversation, one workshop, and one experience at a time. 

Several pivotal moments shaped Marc’s path, but two stand out as particularly transformative. The first was his reconnection to culture, which brought clarity around the responsibility that comes with sharing teachings respectfully. The second was his commitment to sobriety. Choosing sobriety offered Marc direction, stability, and a renewed sense of purpose, guiding not only his personal life but also the kind of business he wanted to build. Together, these experiences shaped Makatew into a space rooted in wellness, intention, and community. For Marc, entrepreneurship has never been just about business — it is about answering a call to support healing, learning, and connection. 

Like many entrepreneurs, Marc’s journey was not without challenges. Launching Makatew in June 2019 meant that only months later, the world shut down. COVID-19 posed a significant obstacle to a business centered on in-person, hands-on learning, and human connection. Rather than stepping back, Marc chose to adapt. He used the pause to deepen his teachings, refine his approach, and strengthen relationships. What initially felt like a setback became an opportunity for growth. When in-person gatherings returned, Makatew emerged stronger, clearer in purpose, and more resilient than before — a reminder that even disruption can carry lessons if met with patience and trust. 

Anishinaabe teachings sit at the heart of Marc’s work and guide how Makatew operates. The medicine wheel, cultural protocols, language, and the impacts of residential schools and the Calls to Action are not taught as abstract concepts, but as living teachings shared with care and humility. Balance — tending to the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual — helps Marc stay grounded during challenging moments. Humility reminds him that leadership includes listening and learning. Above all, the teaching that relationships come before transactions shapes how Makatew engages with clients and communities. Every workshop is approached as a responsibility, not a product. 

Community has also been central to Marc’s success. From Elders and mentors to early clients and fellow Indigenous entrepreneurs, the relationships he has built have sustained and strengthened Makatew. Marc believes community support is cultivated through showing up authentically, offering respect, and giving before asking. When entrepreneurship is guided by reciprocity, trust naturally follows. This philosophy has allowed Makatew to grow while staying rooted in integrity. 

Looking ahead, Marc envisions Makatew continuing to expand its reach while remaining grounded in culture. He hopes to grow larger community events, such as the annual Truth and Reconciliation Ceremony, into powerful city-wide gatherings that inspire reflection and relationship-building. Through Makatew Speaks and consulting work, he aims to support organizations in creating workplaces where Indigenous inclusion is not only understood, but practiced. At its core, Marc sees Makatew as a bridge — bringing Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities together through education, shared experience, and mutual respect. 

Marc’s involvement with ADAAWE has played an important role in this journey. Joining the organization offered more than business resources; it provided a sense of belonging and shared understanding. Being surrounded by Indigenous entrepreneurs who share similar values has helped Marc stay grounded, accountable, and inspired. The relationships built through ADAAWE have strengthened both his personal journey and Makatew’s growth, reinforcing the idea that entrepreneurship does not have to be walked alone. 

Marc believes the future of Indigenous entrepreneurship is one of growing influence and leadership. As more Indigenous entrepreneurs step into visibility, they are redefining what business can look like when guided by culture, community, and long-term thinking. For Marc, this work is part of a broader movement — one where cultural integrity and business success walk together, and where Indigenous voices help shape a more equitable and connected future. 

Through Makatew, Marc continues to create spaces where learning feels accessible, dialogue feels safe, and reconciliation feels possible. His story is a powerful example of how Indigenous culture and entrepreneurship can move together — grounded in purpose, guided by teachings, and driven by a commitment to connection.  

You can connect with Marc and learn more about the work of Makatew through the platforms below. Visit the official website at www.makatew.ca to explore workshops, speaking engagements, consulting services, and upcoming community initiatives. For bookings, collaborations, or general inquiries, Marc can be reached by email at marc@makatew.ca or by phone at 613-882-3302. You can also follow Makatew on Instagram (@makatew20) for updates, reflections, and behind-the-scenes insights into the work being done through Makatew Workshops, Makatew Speaks, and Makatew Consulting.