In an exclusive interview with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine, Keenan Beavis, founder of Longhouse Branding & Marketing, shares his journey of building one of the largest Indigenous-owned marketing agencies globally. With a deep passion for empowering Indigenous entrepreneurs, Keenan discusses the challenges and opportunities in business, how his BJJ philosophy shapes his leadership style, and the importance of blending traditional storytelling with modern marketing strategies. Recognized as one of Canada’s top young Indigenous entrepreneurs, Keenan’s insights are invaluable for those looking to make a lasting impact in the business world.
Interview by SK Uddin
Keenan Beavis is the founder of Longhouse Branding & Marketing, one of the largest Indigenous-owned marketing agencies in the world. A proud Métis entrepreneur, Keenan has helped over 850 businesses generate more than $335 million in revenue by combining timeless business principles with modern marketing innovations. Recognized as a 30 Under 30 honoree, and the National CCIB Young Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year, he is passionate about helping businesses grow, empowering Indigenous entrepreneurs, and mentoring the next generation of leaders. Outside of business, Keenan is a dedicated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athlete and advocate for economic development through entrepreneurship.
You began your entrepreneurial journey as a teenager, building one of Canada’s most-viewed YouTube channels and later launching online t-shirt stores. How did these early ventures shape your approach to founding Longhouse Branding & Marketing, and what key lessons did you carry forward?
An important lesson that’s led to my success in creating Canada’s #1 Fastest-Growing Branding Agency is that you won’t know how the things you learn while you’re young will positively impact your future until it happens.Sure, my YouTube channel was awarded as the 27th most-viewed in Canada at the time. But my videos were hilariously bad. However, with bad videos and a vision of getting myself millions of views like YouTubers and videos I loved at 12 years old, I had to do something different. That differentiator for me was Search Engine Optimization (SEO). With the free time that only a 12-year-old has, I started reverse-engineering how some videos showed up higher in the algorithm than others. Later on, all that time I spent learning how to rank my videos higher, helped me sell a lot of t-shirts, and then created the foundation of our Digital Marketing & Branding Agency, Longhouse. Learning is almost always good, and maybe even something you learned from something as simple as a video game when you were younger can turn into a skillset that leads to your own business success.
As an alumni of the EY Entrepreneurs Access Network program and founder of the Longhouse Business Award, you’ve emphasized the importance of mentorship. Can you share how mentorship has influenced your success and how you empower young Indigenous entrepreneurs through your initiatives?
Mentorship changes everything. You’ll grow so much through both mentorship but also by giving back as a mentor yourself. When I joined the EY Entrepreneurs Access Network, I was paired with Greg Noble, an EY mentor, who’s seen many business challenges. As such, his advice isn’t fluff; it’s actionable. Being in business can be lonely so it’s important to have people in your corner that you know will have your best interests in mind. In particular, he connected me to accountants, legal experts, and a broader network that gives you that little edge that comes from peace of mind.
That experience taught me that entrepreneurship doesn’t have to be lonely — but you do need the right people in your corner. That’s one reason I started the Longhouse Business Award. It’s not just a recognition; it’s a way to give young Indigenous entrepreneurs access to the kinds of opportunities I wish I had earlier — mentorship, visibility, and real support.
Glen Ohs, the former president of the Waceya Métis Society, was the first person who made me feel truly welcome in my culture. As my Cree class partner and mentor, he gave me the confidence to show up, be curious, and take that first step into something that once felt intimidating.
I now like to talk openly about things like entrepreneurial self-doubt and normalizing the conversation around the anxieties people face when connecting or reconnecting to their culture. It’s important because trying something new, connecting with your culture or stepping into leadership can feel intimidating. My goal is to normalize that, and to help others take a chance on themselves.
If we want to build a stronger economy, we need to invest in our youth today — and mentorship is one of the most powerful tools to do that.
Longhouse Branding & Marketing is deeply rooted in Indigenous values like interconnectedness and kinship. Can you provide examples of how these principles have informed your business strategies and contributed to Longhouse’s success?
There’s actually a word in Cree that essentially means kinship and the interconnectedness of everything, Wahkohtowin. I was talking about Wahkohtowin on APTN with Creeson Agecoutay not too long ago. In particular on interconnectedness, the word also translates to the personal responsibility that comes from everything being tied together.
At Longhouse, our mission is to empower busy business and community leaders. They’re being trapped by their to-do lists and simply don’t have enough time to make their biggest impact. We dedicate the time to branding and marketing projects so these leaders can focus on what actually needs them the most. When they win their time back, they can focus on hiring, training, growing their sales, spending time with family or any of the other many hats leaders wear.
We’ll help you look great with branding, web design or social media and then get you seen with advertising or SEO. All of that can be managed by an experienced marketing agency team. By supporting leaders with these to-do list items, we’re making our biggest impact.
One of our clients happens to be the owner of four hearing aid clinics, and he is a community baseball coach, volunteer and father. He has so many important roles to fill and because we dedicate time to his web design, social media, advertising and SEO, he has a bit more freedom to focus on what matters to him.
Longhouse has been recognized as Canada’s #1 fastest-growing agency, and you’ve received accolades such as the 2025 Young Indigenous Entrepreneur Award by the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB). What do these achievements mean to you personally, and what advice do you have for young Indigenous entrepreneurs?
These recognitions mean a lot, but what matters most to me is what they represent. Longhouse didn’t start with big investors or a perfect roadmap — it started in my bedroom while I was still lifeguarding with a cellphone and a laptop. I believed in my idea and showed up consistently. That’s why I always say: compounding growth isn’t just for investments — it applies to almost every aspect of your life. We repeat it at Longhouse all the time — just commit to being 1% better every day. The future isn’t built overnight; it’s built by stacking small wins, and being bold enough to start even when it’s scary.
In my speech in Halifax at the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business East Coast Business Forum, where I was presented with the Young Indigenous Entrepreneur Award, I talked about what’s important to me which is inspiring more youth to take a chance on themselves.
When I first started reconnecting with my culture, I was anxious. I thought not knowing enough meant I didn’t belong. But when I finally stepped in, I was welcomed — especially by mentors. That experience taught me that curiosity opens doors. My hope is that Longhouse’s growth shows other Indigenous entrepreneurs that they don’t need permission to begin — they just need to start. And when they do, myself and the entire community will be right there rooting for them.
Disclaimer:
The views expressed in this interview are those of Jesse Galati and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of CanadianSME Small Business Magazine. This content is intended for informational purposes only, providing insights into entrepreneurship and digital marketing strategies.
