UNC PEMBROKE -- American Indian women from all over the state came together at UNC Pembroke on Saturday for the second annual American Indian Women’s Conference.

One of the event’s attractions was an entrepreneurship summit, offering the women an opportunity to help each other.

Bobbie Jacobs-Ghaffar operates her own business in Robeson County, and last year it was honored as the small business of the year for the entire country.

"It was a great honor,” she said. “Especially as a Native American women. My sister and I, the co-founder, we're the first Native American women from our tribe to receive such a designation."

Saturday she shared some of her wisdom at the summit. Participants say they learned a lot from the speeches they heard, but they also say there was another benefit of coming to the conference.

"With all these women, it's a great networking opportunity,” said participant Shelia Wilson. “They're actually really involved in each other's business and supporting each other."

Officials say they originally planned to hold the event at a different school each year, but now plan to continue holding it at UNCP.