She started an animal food bank. Now this Chippewa teen is pitching to win $25K

Since childhood, Zhawanoogbiik Danielle Riley has dreamed of having her own place to care for animals.

It has led the 16-year-old from Chippewas of the Thames, an Anishinaabe First Nations band government just west of St. Thomas, Ont., to become a youth semifinalist in an Indigenous startup competition, with a chance to win $25,000 to grow her business.

Now, she provides free pet food and supplies to those in Chippewas of the Thames, Munsee-Delaware Nation and Oneida Nation of the Thames communities who need it — all while taking care of her ducks, chickens, rabbits, horses, cats and geese at the family’s Riley Ranch