One inspiring success everyone should celebrate is the collaborative competitive series on APTN, Bears’ Lair. Each season, 18 indigenous entrepreneurs are selected and work with amazing mentors to have a life-changing opportunity which includes a $100,000 grand prize.
Bears’ Lair was created and nurtured by Geena Jackson. Hollywood North had a conversation with Geena about that experience.
HNMAG: Did you grow up on the Sunshine Coast?
Geena Jackson: I did not, I was born in Powell River on Tla’amin territory and grew up in Sechelt until I was three years old and then moved to Winnipeg for about seven years and then back to BC, growing up on Vancouver Island.
HNMAG: How did the experience of moving around a lot when you were young effect you?
Geena Jackson: We never went to the same school for more than a few years, even on Vancouver Island. It helped with becoming more personable, making new friends really easily, and getting out of my comfort zone, which gave me a lot of confidence.
HNMAG: You studied communications in University?
Geena Jackson: Broadcast Journalism and Communications at BCIT. I went to LA and did an internship at Paramount Studios with Hard Copy and Entertainment Tonight in 1987. I met a boyfriend 2 weeks before I went to LA and he was living in Toronto, but I had an opportunity to stay in the US to continue working in Television. He wanted to marry me and leave LA to move to Toronto to start a life there. I asked my Mom for advice on whether should I choose my career or love. She said, “Don’t be stupid, choose your career.” Of course, as every daughter does, we do the opposite of our parent’s advice, so I chose love and I moved to Toronto.
HNMAG: What did you do in Toronto?
Geena Jackson: I landed up running a really great hotel and bar on Queen Street called the Drake Hotel. It really grew in popularity and went on to host TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival). It is still very magical and successful today
HNMAG: Did you have previous hospitality experience?
Geena Jackson: Yes, I had twenty-seven years off and on experience at Stefanos, a Greek Restaurant in New Westminster. When I came back from Toronto, I continued working there as well as for the Squamish Nation as their Small Business and Economic Development officer, which I did for thirteen years.
HNMAG: Did that help you to come up with the idea for Bears’ Lair?
Geena Jackson: Absolutely, I also owned a successful hot tub business on the North Shore, Western Spirit Hot Tub and Spa. Unfortunately, after a large amount of rain, the roof collapsed on our building and it was challenging with a less than-cooperative insurance company. We were forced to close. Then I was asked to give a keynote at a Women’s In Leadership conference. I didn’t feel I could do that with my business going under. Chief Leanne Joe from the Squamish Nation, who is one of my greatest mentors, told me that “just because you had some bad luck, doesn’t mean you don’t know how to run a business”. She went on maternity leave and asked me to take her position for six months. My new job was supporting indigenous entrepreneurs from the Squamish nation. I helped them start a new business or expand an existing business. My initial job was with Membership and to help support their businesses. We then gave out a grant through the Squamish Nation Trust. I helped over 500 businesses.
HNMAG: Chief Leanne Joe, went on maternity leave when you started…
Geena Jackson: She never came back. What was supposed to be six months, turned into thirteen years. She has a very successful consulting company of her own and does great things! I owe her for everything that I have today- and she has an amazing son who is now 16 years old, he was the baby!!!
HNMAG: When did you first think of making this TV show?
Geena Jackson: I have always thought of the idea of a TV show for about ten years. I would always think why isn’t there a show like Dragon’s Den or Shark Tank for Indigenous entrepreneurs. Something that showcases the diversity of our culture? A TV show that gives prize money without taking ownership. Much later, I was a guest on an APTN show called First Talk. Then I had that same conversation with someone at APTN. They said interesting, give us a pitch on that. In the pitch, it would be important to emphasize the difference from other entrepreneurial shows, For one, there is no ownership, it shared positive values, and community, it’s more socialist compared to capitalist. We call it “co-opitition” where we hold each other up. On day one, even though nobody knew anyone, the contestants ended up helping each other. They collaborated and figured out how they could complement each other. For the first season, we had one hundred and twenty applications for eighteen spots. The most amazing commonality of all of the applications was that all of the contestants were creating a good or a service that tried to solve or provide a solution to an existing issue for Indigenous communities on a grass roots, regional, national or global level. That is who we are as Indigenous people.
HNMAG: It’s wonderful that people are taking action and doing something to improve the overall quality of life. For the last few years, it’s very common before an event or show, to hear the indigenous land acknowledgment. How helpful is that even if it seems like lip service?
Geena Jackson: I think it must be meaningful with intent. Respectfully, getting an elder from that community, territory, or from the land that you are on, to come and do the land acknowledgment for you is great. There must be a greater understanding for sure. We are beginning to be more informed of what happened to our people, but could use more education and history, specifically residential schools. We have gone a long time without that education and survivors have not been compensated and now we’re losing them. I believe in the word “reconcili-action”. Reconciliation is a start, but “reconciliation” is tangible results of going into a community and making a difference. This is what we say with the Bears’ Lair. This is why we have so much support and sponsorship from very large companies, authentically trying to make a difference and advance Indigenous communities and people
HNMAG: What happened with your first pitch for APTN?
Geena Jackson: They said it was a great idea and they have never done a reality show before. They were quite interested, but still unsure about the concept. They didn’t have a big budget for the show, which meant we would have to raise capital for the show.
This has been a passion project for sure, our team had to raise funds, be the host, ask my brother for free studio space, and ask the other iconic judges from three different business sectors, to volunteer their time.
HNMAG: How did you raise the funds?
Geena Jackson: There are nine episodes and we secured sponsorship. From episodes one through eight, we had one guest judge. BDC, ScotiaBank, VanCity, Ontario Power Generation, Mastercard, NACCA, Driving Force, Securiguard, Moneris and many more!
HNMAG: They came on as corporate sponsors, which allowed you to get the money to make the series.
Geena Jackson: Yes, they came on as corporate sponsors to be a guest judge on the show, and a year’s worth of marketing. For the finale, we had five guest judges. This was national exposure, a face for their company and all those companies has initiatives and campaigns to assist indigenous people in a really authentic, kind way.
HNMAG: Will there be season two?
Geena Jackson: Yes, we are underway. The portal for applicants opened on Friday, June 16th, 2023 at 9 am. We’ve had over nine thousand indigenous entrepreneurs contact us to ask when this was happening. We only taking a maximum of1800 applications and only accepting eighteen applications will make it to the show. We will be looking for specific contestants. We are looking for geographic diversity. We want to represent Indigenous people from the entire country. The companies should have a strong social impact within the community. Applicants also need to have a unique product or service. We want to be mentors for others that are watching all over Canada.
HNMAG: How did you come up with the name of the show?
Geena Jackson: The original name was Eagle’s Den because I’m a Coast-Salish, a West Coast girl. APTN leadership at the time suggested a nationwide spirit animal. Bears’ Lair made the cut.
Bears’ Lair is very positive and uplifting for all indigenous people. Geena’s journey and passion to help others is something that we all can aspire to. Bears’ Lair will be taking contestant applications from June 16-July 16 on their website at www.bearslairtv.com