Kyle Matthews is the Business Development Manager for the Chippewas of Rama First Nation and Managing Partner of Rama Office Interiors, an Indigenous community-owned office furniture company. In these leadership roles, Kyle provides strategic direction for eight community-owned enterprises employing more than 150 staff, with a focus on building sustainable businesses that strengthen the Nation's long-term economic prosperity.
Driven by a passion for creating meaningful and lasting impact, Kyle has successfully secured several million dollars in external funding to advance transformative capital projects, community infrastructure, and business expansion. His work is centered on cultivating strong partnerships between Indigenous communities, governments, industry, and the private sector to unlock opportunities that generate enduring economic, social, and cultural benefits. Every dollar of profit generated through Rama First Nation's community-owned businesses is reinvested into programs and services that support language revitalization, cultural preservation, Elders, youth, education, and the overall well-being of Rama First Nation.
Kyle believes that economic development extends far beyond business - it is about empowering people, strengthening communities, and creating opportunities that will benefit future generations. Guided by the values of the Anishinaabe, he is committed to advancing Indigenous sovereignty through collaborative leadership, innovation, and the development of resilient, community-owned economies that create lasting prosperity.
While Kyle is passionate about growing own-source revenue and building strong Indigenous enterprises, he believes the greatest measure of success is seeing individual community members achieve their own economic aspirations. Whether supporting entrepreneurs, creating meaningful employment, or fostering new opportunities for Indigenous business, Kyle is inspired by helping families build financial independence and generational prosperity. He believes that the collective success of empowered individuals and businesses is the foundation of true economic sovereignty for Indigenous communities and for our future generations.