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Cheerleader, coach, motivator and trusted advisor are just a few of the hats Bradyn Parisian will be wearing in his new role as the first Rawlinson executive-in-residence in Indigenous entrepreneurship with the Hill and Levene Schools of Business.

The new position will develop annual initiatives for Indigenous students interested in entrepreneurship and is part of the University of Regina’s commitment to Indigenization.

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“Most of my career has been devoted to trying to help Indigenous people get ahead in terms of economic development and entrepreneurship,” said Parisian. “It was a very natural fit.”

Parisian, who is Metis but didn’t really get to know the culture until a few years ago, said he didn’t have a lot of people like him to look up to.

“All you ever hear in the news in the negative stories about Metis and First Nations people,” he said. “So for the longest time, I don’t want to say I felt shame, but I wasn’t overtly proud of who I am and that’s a very, very sad thing.