Resilience Circles health practitioner Chris Bryant helps participants through a series of outdoor activities and exercises during an in-person gathering. (photo courtesy of Scott Burton)
Seeking an opportunity to scale Native business and well-being in Alaska, Spruce Root and Jump/Scale launched Alaska Native Resilience Circles, a year-long cohort based program to support Indigenous entrepreneurs.
This initiative strengthens the capacities of Alaska Native enterprises for ecosystem guardianship, long-term economic resilience, comprehensive well-being and community mental health.
Resilience Circles takes a holistic approach to entrepreneurship, recognizing that healthy communities rely on strong local businesses, and business success is deeply connected to personal and cultural well-being.
Participants engage in a series of in-person and virtual workshops that cover a wide range of topics: personal and business financial planning, marketing and branding, physical health and nutrition, mental health, and Indigenous culture and values.
By integrating financial knowledge with cultural grounding and wellness practices, the program fosters sustainable growth for both individuals and their businesses.
By the end of the year, Resilience Circles participants emerge with enhanced business skills and a stronger support network of fellow Indigenous entrepreneurs. This program is more than business training — it is a movement to reclaim and sustain Indigenous knowledge, wellness and economic sovereignty across Alaska.
Spruce Root and Jump/Scale are honored to cultivate this space, empowering Native entrepreneurs to thrive in a way that reflects their values, strengthens their communities and ensures long-term resilience.
Resilience Circles participants Tina Steffen of Klawock and Mary Goddard of Sitka listen during a work session in Juneau. (photo courtesy of Scott Burton)