Jawah Bernier opened her very first business at 24 and has since watched her cafe Birchwood Coffee Ko grow into a community and a labour of love.

On Aug. 8, Bernier was recognized with the Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneur Award for the NWT at the Arctic Indigenous Investment Conference, in celebration of her achievements as a young Indigenous businessperson.

SA国际影视传媒淚've always wanted to own a cafe. Anyone who works in the industry wants to own one,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Bercier humbly kept the award a relative secret until her sister, Sadetlo Scott shared Bercier's success in a Facebook post.
SA国际影视传媒淛awah works tirelessly each and every day to keep Birchwood running smoothly, putting the needs of her staff and customers above everything else. I am so happy to see her get the recognition she deserves and so proud to see all she's accomplished,SA国际影视传媒� wrote Scott.

Birchwood was built with the knowledge that Yellowknife has a market for good coffee, she said.

Many of the customers say the cafe is SA国际影视传媒渉omey and inviting,SA国际影视传媒� said Bercier.

The Ko in the cafe's name means SA国际影视传媒渉omeSA国际影视传媒� in Tlicho Yati.
The cafe is a daughter-father enterprise. Jawah

Bercier's father, Patrick Scott, was supportive of Jawah's dream to open a coffee shop. Three and a half years ago, that dream became a bricks and mortar reality, with the two doing most of the renovations of a previous office space on their own.

SA国际影视传媒淗e was the one that made it possible and said if you're really committed and wanting to go ahead with this, I'll help you out,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Retaining staff in the restaurant industry can be a challenge, but Birchwood has a SA国际影视传媒渞eally good crew of staff,SA国际影视传媒� said Bercier.

SA国际影视传媒淚t's also been surreal to me. It means a lot to be a part of the community. You can see families growing up in coffee shops,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Bercier's business neighbours the Safe Harbour Day Shelter.

Despite not formally taking up the city's offer for public washroom signs, Bercier's policies don't alienate non-customers, and a pay-it-forward jar sits at the counter for street-involved people who can't necessarily afford a coffee.

SA国际影视传媒淎ny left over catering we have, we donate at the end of the day instead of throwing it away,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Birchwood dishes out their ever-popular Bannock n' Egger sandwhiches, and their coffee has gone over well, said Bercier.

Being able to talk to younger people about entrepeneurship is rewarding.

SA国际影视传媒淚 like to talk to them and let them know it's not impossible,SA国际影视传媒� said Bercier. SA国际影视传媒淚've had a lot of young Indigenous people come up and say its inspiring that I'm doing it.SA国际影视传媒�