Indigenous entrepreneur inspires at Red Deer business conference for women
Published 1:37 pm Tuesday, September 15, 2026
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Indigenous entrepreneur Monique Collins says launching a premium water company was never on her radar.
But the Nipiy Beverages Corp. founder encouraged attendees at Red Deer’s Women Leading Change 2026 conference not to wait until everything is perfect to take the first step toward a new goal.
“If you don’t start, you will never fail, and failure is part of being a business owner. It’s part of being a person so we know what we don’t want. Then we change our direction, and lean into things we do want,” said Collins, the opening speaker at the Red Deer District Chamber’s conference, held at Red Deer Polytechnic on Sept. 15.
“I believe when women lead with purpose, build relationships with intention, support each other and have the courage to walk through the doors that open for us, we don’t just build successful businesses, we build ourselves. We create change.”
Collins recently started working with companies in Ontario where she may establish a distribution point for Nisku-based Nipiy, which means water in Cree, with flavours inspired by Indigenous teaching to share culture.
“To me, water isn’t simply something we sell. Water is memory. Water is medicine,” said Collins, recalling her kokum giving her wild mint tea to sooth her stomach.
“Water is relationships. Water is responsibility. Water is life. For me, Nipiy Beverages is also one of the ways to create change. Water with purpose.”
A portion of Nipiy sales is donated to charities to support clean water initiatives for Indigenous communities.
“I want all Canadians to have clean water, including my band. My band is on a boil water order and has been for 25 years,” said Collins, whose family comes from Peepeekisis Cree Nation in Saskatchewan.
Collins, who also founded Indigenous wellness and cultural tourism company Dragonfly Spirit CreeAtions six years ago, said for a long time she didn’t know what she could do to improve access to safe water.
“I was one woman. I had a small business. I certainly didn’t know how to start a water company. I remember saying something out loud one day — I wish I had a water company so I could help.
“Be careful what you say out loud because the Creator of the universe hears you,” smiled the Alberta entrepreneur.
Collins said 10 years ago, as an Indigenous person, she was scared to say who she was.
“Now I can stand in it, and people understand what Indigenous means. And if not, I help to educate them in a way. We can build a relationship with people. Talk about culture. Talk about what that means. And it’s amazing.”
She said her businesses have opened doors she never imagined she’d walk through.
“They’ve taken me to boardrooms, conferences, tourism spaces, competitions and places where I have the opportunity to share my business, my culture and my story.”
The eighth annual Women Leading Change 2026 conference — The Resilient Woman – Business/Mind/Body —featured speakers and workshops for women to build career skills, invest in themselves and make connections.