Bent Arrow

What Bent Arrow does

Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society is a registered Canadian charity founded in 1994 and headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, delivering culturally grounded social services to urban Indigenous children, youth, and families. The organization operates 22+ distinct programs organized across four functional pillars: culture (Practise as Ceremony, Sacred Circle, Sohkisiwin, Cree language classes), social services (Kahkiyaw, C5 Partnerships, Indigenous Housing First, Iskwew House), family support (Kikosewin Family Resource Network, Kokomish House, Health For Two), and employment (Journey to Success, Working Warriors, Employment Career Centre). It also operates dedicated physical facilities including a Ceremonial Building with Sweat Lodge, Orenda House, and Iskwew House. There is no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is direct, in-person, and place-based.

The business model is a hybrid charity revenue stack with three documented streams: charitable donations from individuals and corporations, government grants (notably the Public Health Authority of Canada for HIV awareness programming routed through HIV Edmonton), and corporate sponsorships (RBC, Edmonton Oilers Community Fund, City of Edmonton, TELUS Storyhive). All client-facing services are provided free of charge. The go-to-market motion is community-led: word-of-mouth referrals within the Indigenous community, partner referrals from agencies such as Edmonton Police Service, Child and Family Services, Women Building Futures, and HIV Edmonton, and outreach via the Community Outreach Transit Team (COTT), a joint City of Edmonton/Bent Arrow program that places outreach workers in transit facilities.

Bent Arrow has scaled from a 12-person staff in the mid-1990s to over 260 employees today, operating exclusively within the Edmonton Metropolitan Area with no disclosed geographic expansion. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and led by Executive Director Cheryl Whiskeyjack. Recent strategic activity includes the 2025 launch of the "Ahkameyimok: To Persevere" documentary (funded by a TELUS Storyhive grant) and an expanded HIV awareness partnership with HIV Edmonton in March 2025. No private equity, venture capital, or acquisition activity is present, consistent with its nonprofit status.

Name

Bent Arrow

Legal name

Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society

Website

https://bentarrow.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society is a registered Canadian charity founded in 1994 in Edmonton that operates 22+ culturally grounded programs serving Indigenous children, youth, and families across social services, family support, cultural healing, and employment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indigenous Social Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Minority, Indigenous & Disability Rights (BPADAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises (BPAGALAO), Indigenous & Community Cultural Institutions (THAJADAK), Indigenous, Ethnic & Folk Arts/Heritage Organizations (BPAGAHAI)

Keywords

• Indigenous social services
• Cultural healing programs
• Youth mentoring programs
• Family support services
• Pre-employment training

Headquarters

HQ city

Edmonton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Donations: Relies on donations from individuals, corporations, and community members to fund programs and services.
2. Government Grants and Funding: Receives funding from government sources including the Public Health Authority of Canada for specific initiatives like HIV awareness programs.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Receives sponsorship support from corporations such as RBC, Edmonton Oilers Community Fund, and City of Edmonton for specific programs and events.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society is a registered charity that delivers a suite of free, culturally-grounded programs for Indigenous children, youth, and families in Edmonton. Its offerings span cultural ceremonies and language learning, youth mentoring, family resource support, housing (Housing First), pre-employment training and job placement, gender-specific supports for women and men, and outreach to vulnerable Indigenous Edmontonians via transit-based outreach. Programs are delivered in person at the Parkdale School headquarters, at community venues across Edmonton, and through partnerships with the City of Edmonton, EPS, CFS, and other community organizations.

Product overview

Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society is a registered charity founded in 1994 serving Indigenous children, youth, and families in Edmonton. The organization operates a comprehensive suite of culturally-grounded programs and services organized across several categories: Culture programs (Practise as Ceremony, Sacred Circle, Sohkisiwin) providing ceremonies, sweats, elder support, and language classes; Social Services (Kahkiyaw, C5 Partnerships, Indigenous Housing First) addressing crisis and ongoing support needs; Family programs (Kikosewin Family Resource Network, Kokomish House) offering family support and resources; and Employment programs (Journey to Success, Working Warriors, Employment Career Centre) providing career development and job placement. The organization also operates several facilities including Iskwew House, Orenda House, and a Ceremonial Building with sweat lodge. Additionally, Bent Arrow produces the documentary 'Ahkameyimok: To Persevere' showcasing its community work and healing mission.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ahkameyimok: To Persevere: Documentary exploring the lasting impacts of colonization and highlighting the transformative work of Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society

Products and services

• Journey to Success (JTS) Pre-employment program for unemployed Indigenous individuals offering career development support and job placement assistance.
• Coyote Pride Youth Mentoring Program Mentoring program for Indigenous youth.
• Practise as Ceremony Cultural program offering ceremonies, sweats, elder support, and Cree language classes, including management of the ceremonial building and sweat lodge.
• Indigenous Housing First Housing support program following a Housing First approach for Indigenous individuals.
• Kikosewin Family Resource Network Family support and resource network providing community programming including summer adventures, splash and dash activities, and traditional games for children.
• C5 Partnerships Partnership program under Bent Arrow's services focused on supporting Indigenous children, youth and families.
• Community Outreach Transit Team (COTT) Partnership between the City of Edmonton and Bent Arrow in which a transit peace officer and outreach worker patrol transit facilities to support vulnerable Edmontonians.
• Coyote Kids Youth-focused program serving Indigenous children.
• Employment Career Centre Employment and career development support services for Indigenous clients.
• Her Way Program supporting Indigenous women.
• Iskwew House Shelter or support facility for Indigenous women and children.
• Kahkiyaw Social service program at Bent Arrow.
• Kokomish House Elder-focused program and support facility.
• New in Town Support services for Indigenous individuals newly relocated to urban areas.
• Orenda House Support facility providing various Indigenous wellness services.
• Sacred Circle Cultural and healing circle program.
• Sohkisiwin Program focused on cultural wellness and connection.
• Transition to Success Program supporting individuals through transitions with cultural and employment support.
• Wahkomatowin Program focused on kinship and community building.
• Warriors Way Program supporting Indigenous men.
• Working Warriors Employment and workforce development program.
• Health For Two (Hf2) Free program for pregnant people providing support throughout pregnancy and up to 2 months postpartum, including education on pregnancy, birth, baby care, and referrals to community supports.
• Ceremonial Building and Sweat Lodge Sacred space within Edmonton providing ceremony, sweats, and cultural teachings, offering a safe place for reflection, purification, and community connection.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,500+ community members served at annual Community Christmas Party
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Women Building FuturescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 March 2026Collaboration with Women Building Futures for the annual Round Dance event, helping make the celebration possible through joint organizing efforts.
• HIV EdmontoncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 March 2025HIV Edmonton visited Journey to Success to provide HIV awareness workshop and made a $10,000 donation to the program, funded by the Public Health Authority of Canada, to support Indigenous communities.
• City of EdmontoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCity of Edmonton provides generous sponsorship for Bent Arrow's annual Culture Camp and National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration. This partnership enables free cultural programming for the community.
• University of AlbertasupportingTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for Indigenous Resources - The Cree Language program provides comprehensive library of Cree language materials developed by the University of Alberta for community education.
• Edmonton Police Service (EPS)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEPS conducts toy drives on behalf of Bent Arrow for the Community Christmas Party, supporting families during the holiday season.
• Child and Family Services (CFS)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCFS conducts toy drives on behalf of Bent Arrow for the Community Christmas Party, supporting families in the child welfare system.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Indian Residential School Survivors Society: British Columbia-based Indigenous nonprofit providing cultural healing, wellness, and survivor support services — comparable cultural-healing and trauma-informed service model for Indigenous communities.
• Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary: Urban Indigenous friendship centre model offering cultural programming, youth services, family support, and employment training — closely parallels Bent Arrow's broad program portfolio serving urban Indigenous populations in Alberta.
• Aboriginal Health & Wellness Centre of Winnipeg: Winnipeg-based Indigenous-led nonprofit providing health, social, and cultural programs for urban Indigenous peoples — comparable holistic Indigenous service model combining cultural, family, and wellness programming.
• Lu'ma Native Housing Society: Vancouver-based Indigenous nonprofit delivering housing, family, children, and cultural services for urban Indigenous peoples — directly comparable urban Indigenous service portfolio including housing-first programming similar to Bent Arrow's Indigenous Housing First.
• Native Women's Resource Centre of Winnipeg: Manitoba-based Indigenous nonprofit providing holistic services for Indigenous women, children, and families including housing, employment, and cultural programming — comparable mission, service mix, and urban Indigenous focus to Bent Arrow.
• Awo Taan Native Women's Society: Calgary-based Indigenous nonprofit serving Indigenous women, children, and families through shelter, housing, and cultural programs — directly comparable urban Indigenous service provider in Alberta with similar cultural-healing framing and shelter/housing offerings (Iskwew House analogue).

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Friendship Centres: National network representing over 100 Indigenous friendship centres across Canada delivering urban Indigenous programs — Bent Arrow is part of this broader network and shares the friendship-centre service model, though NAFC operates as an umbrella rather than a direct provider.
• Alberta Native Friendship Centres Association: Provincial association representing Alberta's network of Indigenous friendship centres providing urban Indigenous programming — Bent Arrow participates in this broader friendship-centre ecosystem with similar mandate to deliver urban Indigenous services across the province.
• Indspire: National Indigenous-led charity funding Indigenous education, employment, and community programs across Canada — comparable Indigenous-focused mission and partnership/grantmaking orientation, though operating at national rather than urban scale.

Regional players

• Ontario Native Women's Association: Provincial Indigenous women's association delivering culturally relevant programs in health, housing, employment, and family services across Ontario — comparable program breadth and Indigenous-led service philosophy, though operating at provincial rather than municipal scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bentarrowyeg
• Facebookfacebook.com/BentArrowYEG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bent-arrow-traditional-healing-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bent Arrow