Board Spotlight: Young Métis Leader Matthew Carriere Brings Youthfulness to the ICC

Matthew Carriere is a proud member of the Red River Métis and has honourably served on the board of the Indigenous Chamber of Commerce (ICC) since June of last year. A recent graduate from the Asper School of Business, Carriere has already made a name for himself in both the corporate sector and the Indigenous community.

“It’s always been about showing up for my community,” says Carriere speaking of his motivations. “I’ve been fortunate to receive many opportunities, and I feel a deep responsibility to give back.”  

It was through the Indigenous Business Education Partners program at Asper that Carriere met fellow board member and Vice-Chair, Adam Nepon. Encouraged by Nepon, Carriere put his name forward for a board position with the ICC and would go on to be elected as a Director, bringing a much needed youthful perspective.

Bridging Youth Perspectives in Indigenous Business

The sense of responsibility to one’s community led Carriere to serve on various youth advisory boards, including with the Manitoba Métis Federation, where he assisted in organizing cultural programming to connect Métis youth across the province.

His growing interest in Indigenous economic issues came into play during his undergraduate studies where he volunteered in several initiatives aimed at encouraging youth entrepreneurship within the Indigenous community. “Youth perspectives are often missing in both Indigenous and broader business communities,” Carriere notes. “This [was] an opportunity to help fill that gap.”

For Carriere, one of the most memorable moments during his tenure with the board was participating in the Launching Success with Premier Wab Kinew, which sought to highlight the work of young Indigenous entrepreneurs. Speaking about the event, Carriere said that “[the event] captured exactly why I wanted to be apart of the board.”

With respect to his duties as a board director, Carriere spoke about the incredible camraderie and welcoming environment amongst the board, adding that the board was incredibly supportive of his mission. Balancing responsibilities, both with his studies and extracurricular commitments, Carriere said it’s important to set priorities that align with his personal values to achieve maximum impact. 

Creating Impact Beyond the Boardroom

As Carriere transitions to the next phase of his young career, he aims to address the lack of youth representation in economic decision-making, stating that “young people are often invited to the room, but rarely to the decision-making table.” Economic policy affects everyone, but often not everyone is considered or included. In particular, Indigenous youth.

Carriere’s commitment to economic engagement highlights the importance of initiative and determination to help advocate for neglected perspectives, but also about utilizing youthfulness to its advantage. His message to other young Indigenous leaders is clear: start now. “Leadership,” he says, “is not about titles, but rather about impact.”