Aboriginal youth from all over Saskatchewan and Canada were pitching business ideas to a panel of judges in Regina Friday.

It is part of the fifth annual Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneurship Camp put on by the First Nations University of Canada.

Students like Jackson Adams have often dreamt about setting up their own business.

His business plan involves a company that would use recycled urethane to produce wheels for skateboards.

Adams says he plans to take his business idea to the next step.

“Yeah, me and my friends, my partners here, we have talked about getting it done,” he says. “Like right after camp, going out there to see if we can get it going.”

Adams is from the Kinookamaw First Nation near Regina Beach.

Teammate Autumn LaRose Smith is studying marketing and she says the business camp helped her determine a career choice.

“Yes, before I was a bit confused about what I wanted to do with my future, now I know I want to go into advertising and sales,” she says.

The teams are made of youth in Grades 10 to 12.

They are tasked with coming up with a business plan, a marketing campaign and are even required to produce a 30 second television commercial promoting their company.

Richard Missens is a professor in the Faculty of Business at FNUC.

He says he is very impressed with what the students have shown.

“You know, every year I am impressed with the caliber of the youth that come and I can see all of these ideas, with a little hard work and dedication going into real businesses when they’re done,” he says.

Missens hopes the camp encourages the participants to pursue their dreams, to attend university and to be the leaders and job creators of tomorrow.

The week long camp wrapped up with a mini dragon’s den.

About 20 students participated in this year’s camp.