Capturing and reinvigorating that spirit of First Nation commerce was top of mind for Chad Johnson when he pushed his company, The Akana Group Inc., across the Pacific, becoming the first native-owned business incorporated in Australia in October 2022.
The Akana Group provides tribes and Indigenous farmers with access to agricultural and construction equipment, filling a gap left from traditional equipment dealerships in Indian Country. Johnson, who founded the firm in 2010 and serves as its managing director, plans to capitalize on the momentum from opening the Australia office for further international expansion.