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FEATURES
Written by Nercya Kalino
The Peak had an opportunity to attend the Market hosted by the Indigenous Student Centre and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Student Association on June 29 and spoke to a few of the vendors.
PHOTOS: Amirul Anirban / The Peak
Spirit of the Children Society
In an interview with The Peak, Kasey Sum explained the nonprofit Indigenous agency which began in January 2007 provides “support for family development and children development, as well as for youth.” Spirit of the Children Society prioritizes community care and uplifts Indigenous communities. They offer family strengthening programs which provide support in many ways, from daycare options to their Aboriginal Infant Development program, which helps guide new parents who may have questions about child development and growth. They also help support children diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, along with their parents.
Sum added they also run a housing program that aids families who are in need of shelter. Additionally, the organization provides drop-in programs that span from teachings to cultural nights (such as craft drop-ins), learning about traditional food, Elders dinners, a gender and sexuality group, and various other programs. Sum added all programs include free meals.
“We are all about supporting all the areas and everyone who needs support,” Sum said.
Spirit of the Children Society has two locations: the main office is in New Westminster and the youth programs are held at the satellite location in Port Coquitlam.
Written by Nercya Kalino
Xaanja Free Artist and Design Thinker
Xaanja Free discovered art as a way to help her deal with trauma through mediums such as poetry, printmaking, beadwork, and storytelling.
Pointing to her piece, Nature Is Free, she said, “We are not born with coins in our pockets,” explaining that nature offers us everything we need.
When asked about the meaning of the name Xaanja Free, she said it represents a new beginning. Free told The Peak she chose the name to establish her own identity after growing up in foster care.
Being raised without her parents made Free turn to education for answers. In turn, it became her parent, and the library became her home. She is now completing a Masters of Library and Information Studies at UBC with a First Nations Curriculum Concentration.
“I am Métis, I am Indigenous, I am a mom of four and a wife, so I need income. If anybody wants cards made or would like to support an Indigenous artist by hiring me to make a series of cards for whatever function, I would really appreciate it,” Free expressed.
For more information or to support Xaanja Free, reach out through her email xaanjafree@gmail.com. Her cards are available for customization.
Raven and Hummingbird Teas was founded by Cease Wyss (Skwxwu7mesh, Sto:lo, Hawaiian, Swiss) and is now managed by her and her daughter, Senaqwila Wyss. The Wysses make teas, salves, and tinctures.
Senaqwila Wyss, an SFU alum, spoke about her mom’s beginnings in making these creations. “She’s from the Squamish Nation and has always been learning about the plant medicines. So she got really good at creating blends of teas that really focus on certain health needs.”
She gave the examples of their Love Me tea which targets heart health and the Nurture Me tea which focuses on the kidney and liver. The Nurture Me tea, along with cleansing out physical toxins, was also created to “get rid of those emotional pains that your body is subconsciously holding onto.”
Senaqwila explained that all the blends, from specialized to more general, are intentionally curated. Products such as the Harmony Garden salve are also made with plants from the community garden the Wysses started in the Squamish Nation Capilano community.
The tinctures from Raven and Hummingbird Teas are an alternative to alcohol-based tinctures and are made with a vegetable glycerin base. They currently offer an Elderberry tincture and a Heal Me tincture to help prevent and recover from allergies and colds.
“Because we’re from the Squamish Nation, our belief is we see our plants as relatives and part of that relationship to plants is that we give back to them. And sitting in a garden or by a tree, that’s part of the medicine of plants,” Senaqwila said.
All of their products can be purchased from https://rhtea.co/.
BACKGROUND: Yining Zhou / The Peak
Zen Ben Studios
Brendan Westman, a fourth year health science student at SFU, showcased a variety of paintings he has been creating since 2020 including landscape, portrait, and urban pop culture works. He was proudly represented by his mother at the market who explained, “Brendan represents young Indigenous artists” who should be platformed.
Westman’s mother explained that during COVID-19 restrictions, she and his sister encouraged him to do more painting to develop his skills.
“The SFU Indigenous Market is his public second showing,” his mother explained. She hopes that he continues to progress with a variety of painting tools such as toothbrushes, and glass pallet knives.
She added Westman’s work thrives on showcasing the contradictions in life — happiness and sadness, fear or courage. “As all of us have gone through the world [ . . . ] everybody has shown that in some part of themselves.”
To learn more about Zen Ben Studios you can visit @paintofthewest on Instagram.
