Indigi Bean Creative
- Jun 23
- 1 min read
Akeemi Martinez first learned about WESST through a community partner at the American Indian Business Enterprise (AIBE), who had shared information about workshop at WESST geared towards women. She took her first training in 2024 and has since worked with our WESST team throughout the state.
As an emerging artist and entrepreneur, Akeemi is navigating the intersection of creative expression and business development. Indigi Bean Creative was born from Akeemi's Diné heritage, and it was important that her business be sustainable and honor Indigenous storytelling, wellness, play, and design while reaching broader markets.
Akeemi sought guidance to navigate the complexities of running a creative business, including accessing capital as a first-time business owner and overcoming self-doubt. She credits WESST for helping her address these challenges by providing business education, as well as cultural understanding, to build a strong foundation before scaling her business and public presence. "WESST's support has become an invaluable resource for me as an emerging artist and business owner, and they continue to support my growth today."
Through WESST's trainings and panel-led discussions, she has gained practical knowledge in areas that have helped strengthen her skillset, from marketing to tax preparation and business entity registration. WESST's Native Women Rising's 'Her Voice, Her Story' speaker series have been particularly transformative for her, providing not just information but inspiration from her peers.
WESST has been helpful and inspiriting to me as a small business owner in NM. Their team approaches their work with a deep understanding of Native American culture and governance, which have really resonated with my experience as an Indigenous entrepreneur.
