SAY Magazine - Leadership 2021 - Indigenous Lifestyle

CONTEMPORARY INDIGENOUS LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to circulation dept: Kildonan Place, RPO Box 43084, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R2C 5G7

ISSUE 108

SINCE 2002

Shifting Business Culture Michele Young-Crook Talks Values-Based Leadership

International Indigenous Hip Hop Awards Show Launches Spring 2021

JJ Neepin Makes Her Mark on the Canadian Media Scene

PM 43436539 PRINTED IN CANADA $7.99

LEADERSHIP

SINCE 2002

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First Nations Media Industry Leader JJ Neepin Selected as Five in Focus Participant

CONTENTS ISSUE 108, SPRING 2021 LEADERSHIP

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SAY MAGAZINE Volume 20, Issue 2

Mailing Address: Kildonan Place, RPO Box 43084 Winnipeg, MB Canada R2C 5G7 E: info@saymag.com www.saymag.com Publishers Dominick Blais and Kent Brown

Submissions are welcome.

Articles, letters, queries, etc. should be sent by email to the editor at editor@saymag.com.

SAY Magazine assumes no responsibility for submitted material.

SAY Magazine assumes no responsibility for statements made by advertisers or in submitted material.

Graphics, photographs, editorial content and other printed material are the property of SAY Magazine and may not be used without the written permission of SAY Magazine.

Editor-in-Chief Danielle Vienneau editor@saymag.com

ISSN: 1707-3049 All copy copyright 2020

by SAY Magazine

Content Creator Terra MacPhail terra@saymag.com

GST: 856627534RT0001

Contributing Editors Sarah Ritchie Theresa Peters Art Director Orli Gelfat - Orli G. Design Ad Sales Megan Henry megan@saymag.com Terra MacPhail terra@saymag.com Printed in Canada Website and Social Media Sphere Media Agency info@spheremediaagency.com

This project has been made possible [in part] by the Government of Canada

Cover Story: Small Business Owner and CEO of NATOA Michele Young-Crook Talks about Putting Values into Action

8 Qaumajuq, Inuit Art Centre 10 Artist Jordan Quequish Corporate Culture 18 Shifting through Indigenous Engagement

31 Jewelry Designs Instill Pride Women 32 Warrior The Heart of Our Nations Youth Leader 33 Métis Tracie Léost

20 22 Music Indigenous 28 Embracing Language Revival

34 Advertiser Index

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Leadership in Times of Crises

SAY Magazine acknowledges that we live in Treaty One Territory, at the crossroads of the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota and Dene Nations, and at the heart of the Métis Nation homeland.

Connect with us: www.facebook.com/saymagazine www.twitter.com/SAYMagazine www.instagram.com/say_magazine www.pinterest.ca/SAYMagazine www.linkedin.com/company/say-magazine

Leadership Lifts 30 Good Others Up

Photo credit: Food Network Canada.

SAY Magazine publishes six times a year: Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall, as well as two special editions, including the annual Education Guide for Indigenous students.

SAY Magazine is published by Spirit of Youth Enterprises Inc.

Meet the Four Founders of the International Indigenous Hip Hop Awards Show

Top Chef Canada Contestant Siobhan Detkavich Shares Her Story and Favourite Recipe LEADERSHIP | 3

EDITOR’S MESSAGE

“Leaders are encouraged to remember seven generations in the past and consider seven generations in the future when making decisions that affect the people.” - Wilma Pearl Mankiller

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needs to be greater than ourselves, and we must consider the implications of our actions on the seven generations that will succeed us. In the cover story, starting on page 12, Michele Young-Crook speaks to what really matters to her, as a Indigenous woman as well as a business leader, and how those core values continue to positively enhance the health and well-being of the staff, Indigenous communities and businesses she works with. On page 33, meet Métis youth leader Tracie Léost who has been breaking down barriers and supporting the rise of Indigenous youth. We hope you will continue to be empowered as you flip through this issue and read diverse leadership stories from people in a variety of different industries, including entertainment, business, art and language.

t has officially been one year (in Canada) since our world was turned upside down by the declaration of a global pandemic, and much has changed since then. The need for quality leadership, however, has not changed. Good leaders adapt and inspire others to look outward and consider what could be. In 2021, it’s safe to say the need to reinvent and reimagine are top priorities in order to plan for a better tomorrow, and that is evident in this spring issue of SAY Magazine.

A common thread that is reinforced throughout this issue is asking the question “What really matters?”

From my experience, to be a good leader, one needs to have intrinsic motivation and be able to identify what matters to them as an individual, and more broadly.

If those who identify as leaders can do that, then connecting others with the big picture of what really matters will aid in achieving a common goal and real impact in this life. As leaders, our purpose on this earth

It has certainly been a year of uncertainty, so to all the First Nations, Métis and Inuit leaders—the doers, movers and shakers—we see you, we hear you. Thank you. Let us all continue to move forward with courage, integrity, honesty, an open mind and an open heart.

Danielle Vienneau, Editor-in-Chief

2021 - 2022 Upcoming Issues Issue Name

Issue #

Theme

Space Reservation

Material Deadline

Publication Dates

Summer

109

Tourism & Travel

May 1

May 8

June 15

Special Edition

110

Wellness & Environment

Jul. 2

Jul. 8

Aug. 15

Fall 2021

111

Career Guide

Sept. 1

Sept. 8

Oct. 15

Special Edition

112

Business & Economics

Nov. 1

Nov. 8

Dec. 15

Winter 2022

113

20th Anniversary

Jan. 8

Jan. 16

Feb. 15

Spring 2022

114

Sovereignty & Self-Determination

Mar. 1

Mar. 8

April 15

Advertise with us! Contact: megan@saymag.com or terra@saymag.com. Dates subject to change. Order your subscription today. Visit saymag.com.

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2021 MAY 10-14

SEPT 10-12

MAY 13

SEPT 22

Indigenous Women in Leadership (IWIL) Celebrate, honour and learn from Indigenous women who lead both in business and the community. Connect, learn and socialize in an interactive virtual setting. ccab.com/events

Business Recovery Forum A CCAB full-day virtual event that will assist members, Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs to continue rebuilding the economy. Award presentations to be made. ccab.com/events

MAY 23

OCT 22-23

Womxn Indigenous Legacy Leaders (WILL) Webinar series for Indigenous womxn to access workshops on how to build a professional profile, develop confidence and learn about entrepreneurship. Virtual event. natoa.ca/events

1st Annual International Indigenous Hip Hop Awards Virtual Show. 7:00-10:00 p.m. CST Two-day event celebrating Indigenous arts and culture, recognizing performers and small businesses.

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada indigenoushiphopawards.com

JUNE 7-8

8th Annual NATOA Trust and Investment Conference Event provides an opportunity to connect directly with organizations that provide services in investment and trust management.

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada natoa.ca/8th-annual-trusts-and-investment-conference

AUG 23-26

World Indigenous Suicide Prevention Conference 2021 Hosted by the First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba. This virtual event themed “Strengths in our Communities” focuses on prevention and intervention strategies encompassed by culture and Indigenous knowledge. wispc2021.ca

Celebration of Nations Niagara’s annual Indigenous arts gathering that celebrates creativity, diversity and resilience. celebrationofnations.ca

Indigenous Youth Summit Two-day event that focuses on empowering youth with skills and advice to jumpstart their careers.

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada natoa.ca/indigenous-youth-summit-2021

OCT 26-28

24th Annual Vision Quest Conference and Trade Show This event promotes Indigenous business, community and economic development.

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada vqconference.com

NOV 17-19

National Conference on “Indigenous Peoples and the Law” CIAJ’s 45th National Conference will focus on the important issue of reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples of Canada.

Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada ciaj-icaj.ca/en/upcoming-programs

SAY Magazine has made every effort to ensure our calendar of events is up to date; however, we encourage you to check event websites regularly for updates due to interruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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ENTERTAINMENT

JJ Neepin Is Making Her Mark on Canadian Film and TV

By Danielle Vienneau

JJ (Jenna) Neepin is a First Nations writer and director based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. A member of the Fox Lake Cree Nation, Neepin has written, directed and produced several short films alongside her sister/ partner/producer Justina Neepin with their company JJNeepinFilms INC. She’s directed several documentary television productions for APTN and was the associate producer on the CBC series TRICKSTER (Season 1).

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eepin has received numerous awards and fellowships for her work and dedication to the television and film industry, including being selected as one of the 2021 Berlinale Film Festival Talent Lab participants and winner of the 2019 Women in the Director’s Chair (WIDC)/CBC Films Talent Development Award for her supernatural, crime drama feature script Luminous. Most recently, she was selected as one of only five participants for the Women in View, Five in Focus: Indigenous program—a professional development program that promotes and elevates womenidentifying writers and directors in Canada.

program, I found an Indigenous film placement program through Film Training Manitoba (FTM). I was placed on various shows, big and small, to learn how to be a production assistant. The first show I was a part of was APTN’s Cashing In in 2009.

I went into Season Two of the show as the locations person, which is near the bottom of the film hierarchy. Then I applied for another program through FTM, in the camera training program, and went into Season Three of Cashing In as a camera department trainee, which was a step up.

It was a great learning experience, and it’s also where I met my husband, who was a sound guy at the time.

Neepin is a trailblazer—a true leader and advocate for the Indigenous film and media arts community. SAY Magazine was honoured to have had the opportunity to find out more about her life, projects and future goals.

I had a day job for a while, occasionally finding film work. It wasn’t until 2016 when I started to get busy with director work that I was finally able to quit my day job and live off of contract work.

SAY: How did you get into the film industry?

Neepin: A year after graduating from the University of Winnipeg’s filmmaking 6 | LEADERSHIP

SAY: Did you always want to be a director?

Neepin: Not exactly. I really wanted to be an actor, so I pursued theatre first. I switched

my focus because an acting teacher once told me that the parts I would play would likely be “the best friend” and that was because they [casting directors, etc.] almost always cast the best friend as a minority role.

I was told I was likely to only ever play the Indigenous part and maybe the Asian part.

I was dumbfounded and discouraged, so I switched over to filmmaking. I was already doing it as a hobby, making music videos and mini-documentaries with my sister, so it all just clicked.

SAY: Congratulations on being selected for the Five in Focus: Indigenous program. How did you get involved, and what is the program all about?

Neepin: There was an application and a selection process, and I am really happy to have been selected. It’s a 10-week program meant to help writers and directors who are looking to take the next step in their careers. To be considered for this program, you need to have some working experience and you need to have a project in mind. My project is Luminous, which is in the script stage.

ENTERTAINMENT SAY: Can you tell me more about Luminous? How does Five in Focus play a part in making it a feature?

Neepin: Luminous is about a young Indigenous woman named Aura who has a supernatural gift to see and find missing people. When her childhood friend goes missing, it’s a race against the clock because it turns out that her friend has been kidnapped by a serial killer.

Luminous is in its second draft, so at the end of this program, I am hoping to have completed a third and final script, and a solid pitch package. There are five of us in the program, each matched with an Indigenous female mentor who has made TV shows and/or feature films. I know how to make a feature, in theory, but I am hoping this experience will give me that last bit of insight I need and help guide me on the step-by-step process to making Luminous a feature film.

SAY: What is the inspiration behind Luminous?

Neepin: The inspiration came from my time on Taken, a true-crime docuseries about Canada’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG).

I found it really hard sitting in the

interview chair, hearing all those stories and feeling helpless. Even though you are making a show to potentially help find people’s’ missing loved ones, you still feel really helpless. I wanted to write a story, not a superhero story, but a story about a real person from our community, our own people, who could find their own people, and I wanted to be able to write a semihappy ending. I wanted to play on the supernatural—something that touches on spiritualism and is inspired by my culture.

SAY: What is your favourite or most meaningful project to date, and why?

Neepin: It’s kind of a tie between Headdress and Bayline. In Headdress, I recreated my great-grandfather’s portrait to start a conversation on the cultural significance of the headdress and the responsibility a symbol like this carries. I come from a line of chiefs, of leaders. To me, the headdress is a symbol of leadership. It’s something earned.

Headdress got a lot of attention and premiered at the Hot Docs film festival in Toronto. People really started noticing us after that. But with Bayline, I feel I really got to know my parents better. This is where my sister and I joined my parents on a three-

day camping trip back to the “Bayline” (Hudson Bay Railway between The Pas and Churchill in Manitoba) where my parents grew up. They would always tell us about the Bayline, but there was never any context to what they were talking about. We finally got out there, and they told us so many stories that couldn’t make it in the doc. I did notice that my parents would tell us stories when the camera wasn’t rolling, on purpose, and I realized they were not ready to share some of these stories publicly. I always felt Bayline could have been stronger, but it was done that way on purpose.

SAY: What are some of your future goals?

Neepin: I would really like to get into directing television—I would like that to be more my bread and butter. I also have two other feature scripts that are in their first drafts and sitting on the shelf, so once we make Luminous, I would like to further develop those. I would also like to grow our company and continue to coproduce on other people’s projects. A big goal that my sister and I have—because we have such a great Indigenous community here in Winnipeg—is if (and when) we get to make Luminous, we want as much Indigenous crew as possible.

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CULTURE

Introducing Qaumajuq

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nuit culture is celebrated as the City of Winnipeg welcomes the world to Qaumajuq at the Winnipeg Art Gallery (WAG). A traditional celebration was held virtually on March 25-26, 2021, and the doors to the largest public collection of contemporary Inuit art in the world opened the following day. The first of its kind, Qaumajuq is an Inuit cultural and learning hub in the heart of Winnipeg, with nearly 14,000 of its own pieces of artwork and another 7,200 on loan from the Government of Nunavut. It was created as a pathway to healing and inspiration as a response to Manitoba’s colonial past. It boasts beautiful flowing, flexible spaces, seven art studios (two outdoors), as well as a smart class for virtual classes to connect students and lifelong learners everywhere.

breaking perceived barriers between the general public and art. This theme is repeated at the heart of Quamajuq with a central visible glassed vault so patrons can see art pieces that are not yet on display and get a behind-the-scenes view of the inner workings of the museum. This glass vault is the world’s only visible vault of its kind and stretches the full three floors of the museum. Everything is visible and bathed in light in the true spirit of reconciliation.

“It Is Bright. It Is Lit.”

Quamajuq, the name that Indigenous language keepers bestowed on the space, means “It is bright. It is lit.” Award-winning architect Michael Maltzan intentionally designed Quamajuq with fluid, scalloped white granite to allow light and shadow to play over the space, including floor-to-ceiling windows and 22 skylights to allow the sunlight to fill the space and mimic the vastness and light of the Arctic. The floor-to-ceiling glass front gives the illusion that the undulating granite is floating like northern lights.

Quamajuq Breaks Barriers

Quamajuq is not a traditional art gallery; it is an Inuit-led creation connecting past and present, north and south, art and people. INUA, the inaugural show, is a display of cherished pieces with real connections to the curators; it brings art back to families where it is meant to be and presents them to the world so others may learn and understand.

Quamajuq brings the north, in its authenticity, to the south to share its wisdom so we can all walk together. On each level, the WAG is accessible to Quamajuq so no part is cut off. This allows a free flow of ideas, stories and healing to flow throughout the entire 185,000 sq ft complex.

The massive glass fronts leave the gallery space open to the public walking by,

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INUA

INUA is the inaugural exhibition of the Qaumajuq, curated by an all-Inuit team, representing all four regions of Inuit Nunangat (homeland). The word INUA means Spirit or life force in many dialects across the Arctic, and is also an acronym for Inuit Nunangat Ungammuaktut Atautikkut (Inuit Moving Forward Together). The 8,000 sq ft main gallery called Qilak (sky from the Inuktitut) is the largest individual gallery space devoted to Inuit art and culture, bringing together the work of over 90 Inuit artists. It is a powerful display of the lives, hearts and strength of Inuit artists and the Inuit people.

Qaumajuq will continue to offer its inspiration to the south and will make its space accessible on a grand scale by offering free admission for Indigenous Peoples and allowing free access to all public to the main floor featuring the visible vault. Qaumajuq heralds a new dawn for the Winnipeg Art Gallery and for everyone willing to listen, learn and walk new pathways.

Photos by Lindsay Reid and supplied by the Winnipeg Art Gallery.

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Photo credit: Palash Bakshi

ART

Artist Statement:

The Turtle and the Thunder Being

Ancestral Knowledge Inspires Art Leadership

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rtist Jordan Quequish is Anishinaabe, Sturgeon Clan from North Caribou Lake First Nation (Weagamow) in Treaty #9 in Northern Ontario. Known for painting in the Woodland Style, Quequish bases his work on traditional Anishinaabe teachings, stories and legends. Quequish began painting at a young age and was first inspired by watching his father draw.

Growing up, he learned how to live off the land from his grandparents who also taught him the language and history of his people.

As a youth, Quequish immersed himself in his art, which helped him develop his identity and build his confidence.

His mentor, noted Woodland artist Saul Williams, helped him hone his artistic talents, leading him on the path he walks today. Quequish now hopes to pass on the same support to other budding artists by sharing his teachings and art. To date,

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he has travelled to many communities in Northern Ontario and parts of Manitoba, providing art classes for children, youth and adults. He hopes his art will spark creativity and inspire others to pursue their passions.

Quequish currently resides in Thunder Bay, Ontario, where he is a busy father and an active community member. He leads drum and sharing circles, and makes hand drums, rattles and other ceremonial items. He is also part of a group called The Creative Company—a collective of artists who aim to provide creative outlets for others. In partnership with The Creative Company, Quequish has developed art kits to help promote art as healing for Indigenous Peoples.

For more information, check out Jordan Quequish’s Artwork on Facebook.

“Working with the turtle teaches us to look at life from the beginning of time, from early organisms to the life that we see here today on Mikinaak Minitig (Turtle Island), North America. On Mikinaak Minitig, we are given all the plant medicines and animal beings that we need to sustain us, keep us well, live strong and Mashkowaadiziiwin (live a truthful life). The Thunder Beings and Mikinaak also share the connection of water. The Thunder Being’s lightning cleanses Turtle Island and its waters with each strike.

The Elders in the north teach us that the loon represents kindness, to treat all living things with Gizhewaadizoon (kindness). The one that speaks for the Thunder Beings, the lightning that comes to his mouth, represents that gift of knowledge and speaking the truth.

We live by the four elements of life: water, earth, air and fire. Miigwech, Gaakinaawiiyag.”

- Jordan Quequish, Sturgeon Clan.

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COVER STORY

Putting Your Values into Action Michele Young-Crook (Anishinaabe/ Bear Clan) has been part of the National Aboriginal Trust Officers Association (NATOA) since its inception in 2006—climbing the ranks from volunteer to CEO in 2020.

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oung-Crook’s leadership style and commitment stems from a deep connection to her First Nations culture. Her relentless commitment to providing Indigenous communities, women and youth with the tools to overcome barriers is at the heart of everything she does, and this is evident in both her professional and personal life.

In her prior role as COO at NATOA, YoungCrook successfully grew the organization’s membership and secured key sponsorships that tripled the company’s revenue. Within the first six months of Young-Crook becoming CEO, NATOA’s total revenue increased by more than 50%. The COVID-19 pandemic presented a new challenge—as it has so many—though under Young-Crook’s guidance, NATOA has been able to sustain programming and revenue generation throughout the global crisis by adapting quickly and reacting appropriately.

A busy mom of three, Young-Crook also runs her own small business. She is the owner of MYC Design, a jewelry and gift box curating company. To meet the needs of Indigenous women entrepreneurs during the 2020 holiday season, she created a Facebook group called Indigenous Women’s Holiday Market, which grew to over 40,000 members in a matter of three months. Today, this platform continues to be a place where hundreds of entrepreneurs showcase their wares. With the success of this initiative, Young-Crook took it a step further and recently launched an Indigenous online shopping experience at IndigiMall.net.

Designed to help businesses easily establish a free online store without having to build a stand-alone website, IndigiMall.net is helping Indigenous entrepreneurs pivot and align their businesses in a post-pandemic world of e-commerce.

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COVER STORY

SAY Magazine was fortunate enough to catch up with Michele Young-Crook (MYC) to find out more about what informs her leadership, her observations on how COVID-19 has impacted small businesses and how we can all contribute to the future of economic reconciliation.

SAY: Can you share with us a little bit about your personal journey? Who has influenced you on your path of growth?

MYC: I never felt like I belonged in the Indigenous work sector primarily because of my mixed heritage and fair skin. Because of this, I’ve learned to appreciate my allies in the Indigenous community, who graciously showed me what it takes to be a successful leader. With their guidance and support, I developed self-confidence. Over the years, as I observed thought leadership, I realized they all incorporated the Seven Grandfather teachings to support their teams, benefit work culture, and encourage employee confidence and well-being in the workplace.

SAY: As a business professional, how do you feel COVID-19 affected the economy, and how did you respond?

MYC: When COVID-19 first hit, I felt that organizations were not doing enough for their members or their communities. Indigenous small businesses were at a halt with nowhere to go. I reached out to Indigenous and nonIndigenous organizations to brainstorm ways to collectively work together to ensure that individuals affected by the pandemic were given the essentials to assist in their livelihoods. I decided to create IndigiMall, a virtual mall that our people could easily access and was cost-effective for businesses to sell from. I knew it would have a positive social impact by ensuring the vision of economic reconciliation was reflected within it.

SAY: You mentioned facing challenges when it comes to your Indigenous identity, both growing up and more recently. If you feel comfortable sharing, please tell us more about your experience.

MYC: In truth, I can tell you that I have never felt “Indian” enough. My grandmother was an Algonquin woman from Antoine First Nation in Northern Ontario. But even though most of my extended family is First Nations, I never

truly felt I belonged. Growing up, I would over-analyze what to say, second-guess what I wore, and I was careful about how much I shared about my Indigenous heritage. Recently, there was an oppressive rhetoric article that was written about me “claiming to be Indigenous” because I do not have Indian status. This experience triggered a lot of my previous insecurities about my identity. Thankfully, a group of my fellow Indigenous sisters and mentors stood in solidarity with me against this slander. This experience has helped me realize that it is my right as an Indigenous woman to reclaim my identity and speak my truth as a leader.

I do everything I can to lead my team and others in a way that aligns with my values and theirs.

SAY: Who in your life has positively influenced you as an entrepreneur and leader?

MYC: My grandmother is one of my role models. When I was little, I spent a lot of time with her. She taught me that a person can do good without gaining full recognition for their actions. I’ve taken that to heart. When growing any business or idea, it’s important to make sure you are doing the work for a greater purpose and not your ego. If your intentions come from within your heart, only good can come from it. When you do things from a place of ego, it can open a Pandora’s box of negativity, often overshadowing the positive impact it could have on a community. This influenced me to always question, are people doing everything in their power to make sure our communities are benefiting? Am I? SAY: What does leadership mean to you?

MYC: Leadership is putting your values into action. I do everything I can to lead my team and others in a way that aligns with my values and theirs. This means making sure that you are comfortable in

the decisions you make and their impact on others. For example, simply stating you want economic reconciliation is not enough. It is acting on those values in a way that has a positive tangible impact on our communities and organizations.

SAY: Do you have suggestions for how organizations can participate more fully in economic reconciliation?

MYC: First of all, let’s put our money where our mouth is and shop Indigenous!

That is the whole goal of IndigiMall.net.

Secondly, hire Indigenous candidates.

There are plenty of highly trained, talented Indigenous people looking for work. And most of all, ask yourself if you are fulfilling your mandate as an organization and affecting real change in the lives you are intending to serve. For myself, I intend to lead in a way that not only benefits my family but the greater community. Over the course of my career, I’ve made sure that every business or venture I am part of aligns with my values and the Seven Grandfather Teachings. Leading by example is the only way to effectively be a leader.

SAY: Do you have any more initiatives that you would like our readers to know about?

MYC: Yes, NATOA has an exciting virtual event we are hosting this May called Womxn Indigenous Legacy Leaders (W.I.L.L) webinar series facilitated by global Indigenous leaders. This event focuses on creating opportunities for Indigenous womxn to access workshops on building a professional profile, developing confidence and learning about entrepreneurship. We are also thrilled to share we are launching a Youth Portal this spring, offering Indigenous people ages 18-35 an online resource hub to find information on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, mental health and Canada-wide job opportunities. *The term womxn was chosen to be used as a more inclusive spelling of the word “women”.

To learn more about Michele Young-Crook and NATOA, visit natoa.ca.

To shop Indigenous, visit IndigiMall.net.

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MUSIC INDUSTRY

From Dream to Reality

By Danielle Vienneau

The very first International Indigenous Hip Hop Awards Show is just around the corner, and SAY Magazine is proud to be a partner and supporter of the many talented Indigenous performers and producers from around the world.

In anticipation of the two-day virtual celebration of arts and culture, SAY Magazine would like to acknowledge the four industry leaders who have worked tirelessly to bring this event to life.

We all know that music is healing and can bring people together, and that’s exactly how William Pierson (Jon-C), Christie Charles (Miss Christie Lee), Paul Robert Sawan (K.A.S.P) and Chris Sharpe (C Sharpe) were united—through hip hop. “Hip hop is a beautiful culture that is diverse and inclusive,” said Sharpe.

“It brought us together, and we know Indigenous hip hop will bring millions more together from all over the world.”

Having worked on the CUT Hip Hop Awards together for three years, K.A.S.P and C Sharpe planned to join forces to help increase the visibility of urban Indigenous music artists. “We knew it needed to be big, and we needed a talented team in place to make it happen,” explained Sharpe. They called on one of the pioneers of Indigenous hip hop, Jon-C, who also happened to be one of the creators and producers of the CUT Hip Hop Awards from 2015-2017. To complete the team, they reached out to hip hop artist and Indigenous rights activist Miss Christie Lee, who agreed to join the team.

Together they launched the International Indigenous Hip Hop Awards Show, which includes a music conference followed by an awards celebration. This event will unite those that make up the Indigenous urban entertainment culture, providing a platform to showcase the great work of diverse Indigenous hip hop artists, singers, visual artists, spoken word poets, producers and DJs from around the globe.

Meet the team who has invested their time and money into making this dream a reality.

Jon-C

Jon-C The General is a Winnipeg-born emcee hailing from the notorious North End, a neighbourhood known for its rich and vibrant culture, yet high incidences of poverty and crime. As a youth, Jon-C turned to music as an outlet from his surroundings and the key to changing his lifestyle. Learning all he could about music, Jon-C has solidified his place on the Canadian hip hop scene; his multitude of talents speak volumes in the world of audio. He is a master engineer, mixing music, creating graphics and directing music videos all while being a full-time emcee. With unique vocals and truthful lyrics, it’s no wonder Jon-C is a 12-time music award winner. Fans may recognize him from the popular groups Winnipeg Boyz and Winnipeg’s Most. As the coowner of Heatbag Records and Canadian Urban Television, Jon-C is one of Manitoba’s first true hip hop entrepreneurs. Since 2006, he’s been challenging the industry, changing it and kicking down the door to opportunity while inspiring others to see their potential.

Miss Christie Lee

Growing up in a world of music, Miss Christie Lee’s focus has always been on hip hop. As an emcee, she incorporates traditional knowledge and Musqueam language, an ancient Hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ dialect, in her work. She comes from the Musqueam Peoples, with ancestry from Tseilwahtuth (George) and Squamish (Harry) nations in British Columbia. She is a mother, storyteller and lover of hip hop who hopes her music will inspire other Indigenous youth. With permission from her Elders, Miss Christie Lee’s music is about her culture and her teachings, using rap and hip hop as a modern way to express her creativity and preserve her language.

She has performed on major stages all around the globe, including at the Canadian pavilion, at WEDay, The Drum is Calling Festival, TEDX distortion Vancouver, the JUNO’s with Arcade Fire, and the Whistler Snowboard festival with A Tribe Called Red. Her interests and expertise extend beyond music to art, poetry and film. She has been the curator for Musqueam Youth Claiming Spaces, the artistic advisor for c̓əsnaʔəm, the city before the city (Museum of Vancouver), and a performer and facilitator for the Words Rising, Birds Rising event featured at the Roundhouse and Maplewood Nature House. In 2018, she was appointed the City of Vancouver’s first Indigenous Poet Laureate.

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MUSIC INDUSTRY

K.A.S.P

The International Indigenous Hip Hop Awards Show takes place online

May 22-23, 2021, and will be hosted from Winnipeg, Manitoba, on the original lands of the Dene Peoples, Dakota, Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, on Treaty 1 Territory and on the homeland of the Métis Nation.

Join the movement and find out more by visiting indigenoushiphopawards.com.

From British Columbia, Canada, K.A.S.P is a multi-award winning and multinominated Cree hip hop artist, DJ, motivational speaker and workshop facilitator. He grew up in the rougher areas of East Vancouver where he was first introduced to hip hop music. K.A.S.P started his music career in 2000 with the hip hop group 7th Generation, and in 2010 made the decision to branch out as a solo artist. In 2013, he took some time off from the music industry to focus on motivational speaking and working with youth.

Over the years, K.A.S.P has shared the stage with artistic talents like The Game, Lloyd Banks, Obie Trice, Maestro, Tone Loc, Choclair, Snow, Moka Only, Young Buck, Swollen Members and SweatShop Union. He has also collaborated with DMC of the legendary RUN DMC, Chino XL, Choclair, Moka Only and Northern Cree.

K.A.S.P has committed himself to serving Indigenous youth. His motivational speaking intertwines the story telling of his life—growing, persevering and expressing his life through his music.

C Sharpe

C Sharpe has spent his entire life creating, from marketing to film editing, branding to graphic design, and script writing to music production for major companies, artists and deejays. He has coordinated and promoted major events in Canada, including concerts for Shaggy, Shawn Desman, Danny Fernandes, Belly, Karl Wolf, Neverest, Eleven Past One, Crystal Shawanda, Choclair, Bishop Brigante, Ivana Santilli, JRDN and Maestro Fresh Wes to name a few. For the last five years, C Sharpe has worked as the cultural and event director for the City of Thompson in Manitoba and has previously coordinated the entertainment for the Manitoba Indigenous Games.

With an educational background in Digital Multimedia and Technology from Red River College (Winnipeg, Manitoba), C Sharpe’s specialization in video design has secured a multitude of creative works, including a TV series with Inferno Pictures for the Comedy Network called House Party.

He is the creator and executive producer for national television production Urban Star, and most recently he created and executive produced a new TV show called Yo Canada Raps. In his spare time, he likes to build story pitches for TV networks and create video game applications.

For over two decades, he’s done it all. So there’s no doubt that his specific skill set fits perfectly to round out the founding team of the International Indigenous Hip Hop Awards Show.

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LEADERSHIP | 17

PARTNERSHIPS

Shifting Corporate Culture through Indigenous Engagement

C

“A way to start is to familiarize yourself with the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)1 and the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP)2. This is the first step in rebuilding relations with Indigenous people,” said Loutitt. “Then start a process within your organization to honour and implement several TRC Calls to Action. It is important to realize that Indigenous people represent perspectives and knowledge that have not been available to the world until now. From environmental sciences to genetics, Indigenous people bring valuable solutions to global industry issues. If companies want to be innovative and successful in the future, they need to make educating staff about Indigenous perspectives a priority.”

IISB empowers organizations to assess where they are in the multi-stage process of successful Indigenous engagement and how they can continue to improve. Loutitt often works with organizations that have never met or worked with Indigenous Peoples, and also with those that have thoughtfully implemented policies regarding Indigenous engagement. Some clients are already members of Indigenous networking organizations, such as the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business 1

Editorial credit: Girts Ragelis / Shutterstock.com

hanging perspectives in organizational culture is a long-term commitment, and Shannon Loutitt, the founder of the International Indigenous Speakers Bureau (IISB), is an expert in this process. IISB, a long-time partner of SAY Magazine, aims to create opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities to connect and build bridges by providing access to a wealth of Indigenous speakers from around the world. So what does business reconciliation look like, and how can the relationships between non-Indigenous and Indigenous communities be improved?

Loutitt offers her perspective and advice on how corporations can get started on a journey of incorporating an Indigenous perspective into their company culture.

(CCAB), but for those that are considering connecting with the Indigenous community in any number of ways, IISB can provide a pathway. Through its speakers, who are knowledge-keepers and/or industry experts, IISB is able to provide the education and perspectives needed to progress an organization toward success.

Through her work, Loutitt has seen organizations at all levels of development; however, when she sees outstanding effort and success, she is quick to recognize excellence in leadership. One company that shines in this area of education and diversity training, according to Loutitt, is the International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) because of the depth and breadth of their commitment to Native/ Indigenous diversity and development initiatives.

Recognized by Mediacorp Canada Inc. as one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2021, IBM is proving it is one of the leaders in diversity, inclusion and Indigenous reconciliation in the corporate world. For

over three decades, Indigenous Peoples and Native Americans have been contributing to a business culture of inclusivity that promotes equality and encourages diversity, driving systemic change and sustainable development on a global scale.

“At IBM, we are seeking to educate everyone in our organization to shift, shape and broaden the way decisions are made across the board,” said Sophia Dozier, diversity and inclusion leader at IBM. “We have diversity training, sure, but our approach goes much deeper than that by exposing IBMers to different cultural perspectives on a regular basis from many angles.”

Loutitt is optimistic about her work with IBM. “From the very first meeting, I could feel the intention and passion in alignment with what the TRC and UNDRIP are trying to achieve. In our initial conversation, Dozier came to the table vulnerable and willing to share IBM’s need for Indigenous education and their struggle with connecting with First Nations people. Her honesty and genuine desire to rectify this is what started

www.trc.ca I 2 www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/declaration-on-the-rights-of-indigenous-peoples.html

18 | LEADERSHIP

PARTNERSHIPS our journey off right. This all led to the development of IBM’s first speaker series.”

IISB speakers, Jolene Stockman, Jack Saddleback and Dr. Keolu Fox illuminated IBM staff on topics such as the benefits of neurodiversity, Two-Spirit perspectives, and what it means to see with an Indigenous lens. The unprecedented success of the series has led to developing an ongoing speaker series and other Indigenous engagement opportunities with IISB. IBM is an organization of over 300,000 employees globally, and Loutitt feels they are committed to ongoing learning. “I think a lot of organizations have the misconception that learning, in particular about Indigenous perspectives, is a box to check or a one-off requirement. Unfortunately, those organizations will miss the incredible opportunity to level-up their businesses in a new way. IBM knows this. One of the things that is so impressive about IBM is this is not the beginning of the journey

for them. Their policies, procedures, and initiatives on diversity and inclusion are beyond anything I have seen to date, and they continue to keep trying to do better.”

Indigenous people come from a world of storytellers, and we understand the power of the spoken word.

Stories can heal, inspire and transform lives.

- Shannon Loutitt

Recently, IBM implemented a global allyship certification for their employees.

This certification is a badge the employee receives to let others know they are a culturally sensitive person with whom they can connect. The program requires

the employee to complete education on a number of diversity topics and ask for community recommendations in order to be certified as an ally. The program also asks participants to continue to train and apply for regular recertification.

Loutitt has a very clear plan of action for the organizations she works with. She counsels, “Invest in education because it will scale your business more than you know.” She also encourages other businesses to follow or create partnerships with allies like IBM. “Don’t try to do it alone. Engage with organizations like IISB or CCAB to help move you on your path to impactful engagement. You won’t regret it,” said Loutitt. “Indigenous people come from a world of storytellers, and we understand the power of the spoken word. Stories can heal, inspire and transform lives.”

For more information about the International Indigenous Speakers Bureau, visit iisb.ca.

LEADERSHIP | 19

BUSINESS

Leadership in Times of Crises

I

By Tabatha Bull, President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business

acknowledge the leadership of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) as a significant responsibility and recognize it as an honour. I also respect the wisdom and courage of the incredible Indigenous leaders who have held this space before me. They have inspired me and given me the courage to succeed in an organization committed to growing the Indigenous economy despite the challenges of the past year.

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I do not think any of us could have imagined what leading a team in a virtual world would be like—that book has yet to be written—and the various books on the first 90 days as a CEO say nothing about doing so in a pandemic. However, as women leaders, it is in times of crises where we shine. According to an analysis of 360-degree assessments conducted

by Zenger and Folkman for the Harvard Business Review, between March and

June of 2020, women were rated as more effective and tended to perform better in a crisis. In fact, women were rated more positively on 13 of the 19 competencies that comprise overall leadership effectiveness.

Women are leaders, and it takes courage to lead with compassion, transparency and humility.

My leadership over the course of the pandemic may not have been traditional,

BUSINESS

but my first priority was letting my team know that I support and care for them. At the start of the pandemic, recognizing the anxiety it created, I was very cognizant of my team’s mental health.

Aside from our regular staff meetings where we connected as a team, I made it my mission to initiate several other inspirational initiatives. Among some of my favourites were delivering a Raven Reads box (#buyIndigenous) to each staff and cherishing that quick connection even from the sidewalk; scheduling a 5 p.m. Friday staff meeting on April Fools’ Day and then promptly cancelling it for a well-deserved afternoon off; hosting a virtual gathering to eat a holiday meal together thanks to UBER; and offering a cheerful gift of choice to staff to brighten up their home desks. As a company, we also provided our families with some creative school supplies for the “kids of CCAB” to alleviate some of the stresses of having to work while home-schooling our children.

One of the most valued initiatives occurred over the summer. As we all felt the weight of social injustices, we made the decision to take coordinated vacation and closed the entire office for a week; making it clear and intentional that the purpose was to put the mental health of our staff and their families first.

Taking it to heart, our team decided to create a social committee which proved to be an important step in keeping our team connected and having fun while we are apart.

Most recently, the social committee—quick to recognize the importance of stepping away from our screens—organized a Step Challenge. During the 28 days of February, 27 staff participated in the challenge and accumulated an impressive total of 6,411,907 steps. That is an approximate 4,886 kilometres walked collectively! The challenge reinforced teamwork and got us moving outside. We had a great time posting photos of our walking adventures along with our daily steps on a chat group. It was exactly what we all needed to connect on a social level and to recharge body, mind and spirit.

As a leader, I know it is also important to find time to have a real conversation and to not only ask “How are you?” but to ask, “Really… how are you?”. Most importantly, I strive to lead by following the Seven Grandfather Teachings, one of which is demonstrating humility. It has

been important for me to let the team know that at times I also get overwhelmed, that sometimes I too need a break, and that home-schooling children (two boys in my case) while working is hard...really hard!

I say all this because we need to take care of ourselves, have compassion and understand the needs of our teams so that we can, together, do the work that

governments to increase supplier diversity in procurement and supply chains.

While there has been some progress since the pandemic began, we still have much to do. Indigenous Peoples came from a long history of systemic oppression.

Discrimination holds us all back—our history has taught us this, yet it still exists in today’s world. The pandemic has

My leadership over the course of the pandemic may not have been traditional, but my first priority was letting my team know that I support and care for them. - Tabatha Bull will challenge us in 2021. On the business side, CCAB supports Indigenous business and communities through the strength of our programs and our members; be they Indigenous businesses, PAR-certified companies, corporate champions, patrons, academic institutions or our government partners. One of the important goals for CCAB is to continue to strengthen a procurement relationship between Indigenous business, both government and corporate Canada. As Canadians, as leaders, we owe it to Indigenous communities and businesses to proactively seek out meaningful and genuine partnerships in opportunities that increase the Indigenous economy. This is vital for both a prosperous Indigenous economy and to strengthen and recover Canada’s wealth and stability.

Now, well into 2021 and awaiting “herd immunity”, we hope to rebuild and transition toward normalcy, not knowing, as the virus evolves, what exactly normalization means for our social and economic life. For our part, we remain dedicated and stand by our commitments to CCAB members, Indigenous businesses and communities.

Moving ahead, we will continue to open doors for others and to help in the recovery process. Advocating for Indigenous businesses across the country and beyond is part of our mandate. By undertaking important research on the developing Indigenous economy, that we provide to the government and organizations, we help inform and enable corporations and

forced us to think differently; it has not only highlighted but it has widened the economic and social gap. Most importantly it has taught us more than ever the need for collaboration, and it has shown us that we need to do better.

Full collaboration helps businesses build networks, explore new possibilities and fortify our economy. I firmly believe that, together, we can not only sustain the Indigenous economy, but we can continue to ensure it grows. By empowering Indigenous leaders and youth, and strengthening their representation across the country in board rooms, in decision-making positions and in key economic discussions, we can find progressive solutions.

For me, it is hard to believe one year has gone by already since I took over the helm, so to speak. I cannot adequately express how grateful I am for the CCAB team and the support of all our members and our board. We have become stronger, more effective, and more determined than ever in the work that we do for Indigenous business and the economy.

Tabatha Bull is Anishinaabe and a proud member of Nipissing First Nation near North Bay, Ontario. She is the President and CEO of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB), working with members, businesses and communities to help strengthen a prosperous Indigenous economy and Canadian market. Bull is a proud mom to two boys and can often be found in a hockey arena or at a baseball diamond.

LEADERSHIP | 21

MUSIC

ICEIS Rain ICEIS Rain is a two-spirit awardwinning entertainer, public speaker and entrepreneur from Fort McKay, Alberta, Canada. Born and raised male as Massey Whiteknife, ICEIS Rain—his recording artist alter ego—is a strong fearless woman who is much more than the fur coats and sparkly stilettos she’s known for.

Empowered by strength, independence and beauty, ICEIS draws on Whiteknife’s traumatic past to empower others through music, giving a voice to those who are not often heard. In addition to entertaining the masses as a performer, ICEIS is a philanthropist, a mentor for First Nations people and an anti-bullying advocate for LGBTQ2 youth.

ICEIS wrote and produced both her first and second album. Her 2014 debut album The Queen is a diverse collection of rock anthems and ballads with country flair, and earned five nominations at the 2014 Aboriginal People’s Choice Music Awards. Redemption, released in 2018, showcases her electric style, and her single “Striptease” is still reaching top 20 on the Indigenous Music Countdown.

An entertainer by night and a successful businessman by day, ICEIS, or rather

Whiteknife, is a proud member of the Mikisew Cree First Nation and an oilpatch entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of ICEIS Safety, with over 20 years of experience in the industry.

Whiteknife is also a survivor. He has overcome years of sexual abuse, bullying, addiction and homelessness to become a successful, multifaceted entrepreneur. He has built an empire by learning to cope with dissociative post-traumatic stress disorder and by embracing his inner sassy, voluptuous premier drag queen, ICEIS. Embodied in the same person, ICEIS and Whiteknife live two separate lives, but it was only a matter of time until their worlds collided on the same journey.

Melding the life of the entertainer with the businessman, ICEIS is the star of APTN’s groundbreaking docuseries Queen of the Oil Patch and the critically-acclaimed, award-winning documentary Oil Sands Karaoke.

In addition to being featured in a number of noteworthy publications (including Alberta Venture Magazine, Breakfast Television, City TV and CBC Radio), ICEIS was the first two-spirited, First Nations person to perform live on national television and the first two-spirited female fancy dancer to be initiated in the pow-wow circle.

ICEIS’ dedication to her profession and philanthropic activities have made her a sought-after public speaker, where she helps others develop the tools they need to overcome adversity and succeed in their personal lives and careers. She’s willing to share not only the highs but also the lows of an exceptional life.

Today, her growing celebrity status and extraordinary life story are inspiring audiences from all walks of life.

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MUSIC

Eadsé

Based out of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Wendat singer-songwriter Eadsé offers inspiring melodies and hard-hitting lyrics on her first solo album titled My Good Friend.

In this album, Eadsé explores the sounds of soulful pop, creating an experience that is both powerful and moving.

Eadsé, which means “My Good Friend” in Huron-Wendat, was the name given to Anne-Marie Gros-Louis Houle when she was born by former Grand Chief of the Huron-Wendat First Nation Max GrosLouis.

Her passion for music began at a young age, and it was her grandfather (from the wolf clan and the raven family) who steered her toward her artistic journey. As a youth, she learned to play classical piano and began her music studies at the Cégep level where she discovered her love for jazz and pop, and then continued her studies at Université Laval.

As she developed her craft, Eadsé took every opportunity to perform on stage, singing in cover bands and performing all over Quebec with other Canadian greats, like Inuk singer-songwriter Elisapie and

singer/guitarist Pascale Picard. In 2014, Eadsé appeared on APTN’s Le Rythme, which followed eight young Indigenous artists who took part in an intensive eightweek training in order to create an album.

Composed mainly of her original compositions, Eadsé’s solo project My Good Friend is now available on all major streaming platforms.

LEADERSHIP | 23

MUSIC

Joy Harjo Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Joy Harjo is a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and belongs to Oce Vpofv (Hick­ o­ ry Ground). She is internationally renowned as a performer and poet, recently becoming the 23rd Poet Laureate of the United States—the first Native American Poet Laureate and second Laureate ever to be appointed for a third term. Performing with her saxophone and flutes, solo or with the Arrow Dynamics Band, she has toured the United States, Europe, South America, India, Africa and Canada.

Her newest album I Pray for My Enemies dives deep into funkified spoken word and hard grooves which feed the spirit. She produced this album in collaboration with Latin Grammy Award-winning producer Barret Martin out of an urgent need to address a sense of discord and bring healing to the troubled world. In her authentic and compelling voice, Harjo blends traditional and modern, urban and reserve, elegance and grit.

On this album, Harjo is joined by a top-shelf band, featuring Peter Buck (R.E.M.) on electric guitar and feedback, Mike McCready (Pearl Jam) on electric guitar solos, Krist Novoselic (Nirvana) on acoustic guitar, and Rich Robinson (Black Crowes) on electric guitar solos. Additional players include

renowned Iraqi oud master Rahim Alhaj, trumpeter Dave Carter and percussionist/backing vocalist Lisette Garcia. Completing the talented ensemble are Harjo’s step daughters who sing harmony vocals and her husband Owen Sapulpa who plays surdo drum on the album.

Harjo has received many accolades for both her music and poetry. She has received various awards for her six previous albums, including Winding Through the Milky Way, for which she was awarded a Native American Music Award (NAMA) for Best Female Artist.

As a poet, she has received the Ruth Lily Prize for Lifetime Achievement from the Poetry Foundation, a PEN USA Lit­er­ary Award, two NEA fel­low­ ships, a Guggen­heim Fellowship and many others.

Harjo is not an artist to be boxed in; her career is as varied as her themes.

As an author, she has written nine books of poetry and a number of children’s plays and books. Harjo’s most recent work An American Sunrise earned her a 2020 Okla­ homa Book Award.

As an advocate for social empowerment, Harjo holds various leadership positions, including chancellor of the Academy of American Poets, Board of Directors Chair of the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation, and holds a Tulsa Artist Fellowship. She has written several screenplays and toured as a one-woman show for her play Wings of Night Sky, Wings of Morning Light.

From any angle, Harjo is an artist without borders, at home in many worlds, and respected in many cultures.

Photo credit: Matika Wilbur 24 | LEADERSHIP

MUSIC

Dawn Avery Grammy Award and Native American Music Award (NAMA) nominated performer Dawn Avery is a worldrenowned cellist and vocalist. Her Native American heritage and Sufi experience are reflected in her music as she blends spiritual, folk, pop and classical elements to create a contemporary sound.

Of Mohawk Kaniènké:ha descent, Avery’s Mohawk name is Ierihó:kwats, which means “digging deeply into her roots to learn”, and she wears the turtle clan. She grew up around music with her earliest memories being falling asleep to the sound of her father’s drumming—a talented jazz drummer. Immersed in dance and music as a child, she later picked up and fell in love with the cello, which she describes as having a “vocal range that is very similar to the human voice.”

Inspired by the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Yo-Yo Ma, her worldly sound is as diverse as her musical interests and experiences.

Not only has she toured (for many years) with a string quartet playing the Delta Blues but she also toured with a Persian

Funk band. Avery’s passions lie in working with all kinds of people, learning from many different cultures and traditions, and studying sacred music, all of which is evident in her music and other projects.

Avery is committed to Indigenous language and cultural preservation as a musician, educator and participant of Longhouse ceremonies. She is also a workshop facilitator and produces projects as part of the Native Composers Project.

Currently she is completing a recording of the North American Indian Cello Project with compositions by Native composers.

She has composed music for awardwinning films, most recently The Warrior Tradition produced by Hott Films, and major theatre productions with Spiderwoman Theatre in NYC, the Alliance for New Music-Theatre in Washington DC and Heather Henson’s IBEX Puppetry.

The latter Indigenous-based project led to a run at the New Victory Theatre on Broadway, Ajijaack on Turtle Island (2019) and the release of the album Crane on Earth, in Sky: a Journey (2017), which won two silver medals for Best Album and Best World Music for Theatre at the Global Music Awards. Her latest Global Music Award-winning multimedia projects and recordings feature what has been called Native downtempo (50 Shades of Red) and World Mystic Pop (Beloved).

As a composer and award-winning educator, Avery has worked with musical luminaries Luciano Pavarotti, Sting, John Cale, John Cage, R. Carlos Nakai, Glen Velez, Larry Mitchell and Joanne Shenandoah. She has collected awards for her classical compositions from Duke University, the Ford Foundation’s Indigenous Knowledge, Expressive Culture grant program (of the American

May 10 May 24 May 31 June 7

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ICEIS Rain Dawn Avery Eadsé Joy Harjo

Composers Forum), the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, American Dance Festival, Washington Flute Association, NYU and Meet the Composer, among others.

Avery holds a PhD in Ethnomusicology with research on the application of Indigenous Theory to Native Classical Composers and their music, in which she created new methodologies to decolonize traditional research and analysis, and its representation. She is committed to the preservation of language and culture through the production of archival recordings and her Native Composers Project. She is also devoted to water sustainability and education through the arts.

With the goal of making a positive difference through music, Avery hopes to inspire listeners, drawing them into another realm of beauty. Avery’s artistry can be heard on radio, television and in film.

Visit us at IndigenousinMusic.com LEADERSHIP | 25

FOOD

Meet One of Canada’s Youngest

Red Seal Certified Chefs At just 21 years old, Siobhan Detkavich is the Chef de Partie at Mission Hill Family Estate Winery in Kelowna, British Columbia. She also happens to be the youngest chef to ever compete on Food Network Canada’s hit show Top Chef Canada. As one of Canada’s youngest Red Seal certified chefs, she already has an impressive culinary resume, including winning a bronze medal for cooking at the Skills Canada National Competition.

W

“

hen I have done competitions, I’ve typically been the youngest competitor,” said Detkavich. “Throughout my career, there have been times when people have doubted me because of my age, especially coming from an Indigenous background. Growing up with that, it just fuels something from deep down. It’s a huge deal for me to be on Top Chef Canada, not only because I am representing a younger generation, but I am representing a young Indigenous nation.”

Detkavich’s family lineage traces back to Hawaii. Her family (still to this day) stretches across the Big Island, O’ahu, Lanai and Kaua’i. She is a descendant from a long line of chiefs with records dating back to the royal family. “It’s been nothing but honourable to know who we stem from,” she said. “Once the journey was made from the Hawaiian Islands to the shores of Vancouver Island, that’s when the next part of our story began.”

Originally, Detkavich’s family came to be within Tseycum First Nation, and it wasn’t until her great-great grandmother asked for a transfer that they became part of Cowichan Tribes. “We are part of the Thunderbird and Fish Head Clans,” explained Detkavich, “and we share the history of the Hul’qumi’num Peoples, and the trials and tribulations they endured.”

Unfortunately, Detkavich did not grow up with her island family, but has made it her mission to gather information about her ancestors. “It’s been an amazing journey finding out who we were piece by piece, where we’ve come from, and what I can do to take us to where we will become and share what was once lost.”

With season nine of Top Chef Canada underway, Detkavich is looking forward to bringing her A-game as she competes against 10 other talented professional

26 | LEADERSHIP

chefs from across the country, all with diverse backgrounds and culinary styles.

Detkavich’s ultimate goal—“to rise to the top” and win the $100,000 grand prize.

Detkavich’s passion and fierce determination is admirable—a true role model for women, Indigenous youth and aspiring chefs. When she isn’t competing in world class cooking competitions or working as the Chef de Partie at Mission Hill Winery, Detkavich is attempting to master Indigenous cuisine in hopes of feeling more connected to her roots.

Feeling inspired and ready to cook? On the next page, Detkavich shares one of her favourite recipes, Beet Cured Salmon Risotto.

Beet Cured Salmon Risotto From the kitchen of Siobhan Detkavich

“I love this dish because it’s so out of the norm. As a cook, I’m still discovering what my ‘brand’ is and how I can showcase it in a unique way.

I am absolutely in love with Italian/Tuscan cuisine, and finding innovative ways to incorporate Indigenous fusion into it excites me. I’m a big believer in supporting local—I just find it so powerful going out onto the land and foraging for your own ingredients. It really humbles you. It gives you a deeper appreciation for what you’re working with and a greater story to tell. However, like with all recipes, I encourage people to find what works best for them when making it at home. Each palate is different, and I’m just here to set a guideline to help others discover their own creative twists the same way I’m doing myself. Buon appetito!”

FOOD

FOR THE SALMON: 1 medium beet 250g brown sugar 250g kosher salt zest of one lemon zest of one orange 1lb fresh fillet of salmon (make sure that the pin bones are removed prior to curing) DIRECTIONS: 1. Peel the beets then pass through a fine grater.

2. Combine with sugar, salt and zests, and gently massage the

mixture onto the salmon, taking care to cover all of the salmon.

3. Tightly wrap the salmon in plastic wrap and leave in a container with walls. Cure for 24-48 hours. Once at a light/medium cure, brush off excess cure, but do not rinse. Pat dry.

4. Cut into small rustic pieces to fold into risotto.

FOR THE SMOKED SAGE BUTTER:

FOR THE RISOTTO:

2-3 sprigs of dried whole sage 1 tsp unsalted butter, room temperature

5 cups vegetable stock (divided) ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil 2 small onions, finely chopped 4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped 2 cups arborio or carnaroli rice ¼ cup butter (+1 tsp sage butter)

DIRECTIONS: 1. In a small metal (or glass) insert, create a tinfoil bed for the sage to rest in. Place butter adjacent to it.

2. Quickly, and with extreme caution, take a lighter to the sage until small flames appear. In a quick movement, blow out the active flames and cover the insert tightly with plastic wrap to ensure the smoke stays trapped within.

Keep butter covered for 20-30 minutes.

FOR THE BEET CHIPS: 3 tiny beets 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1/2 tsp thyme pinch of salt DIRECTIONS: 1. Line your baking sheet with parchment.

2. Clean and scrub beets. Once finished, use a mandolin (if available) to slice the beets very thin. Place the beets in a bowl, and add the oil and thyme. Toss until well-coated.

Lay beet chips out evenly, ensuring that no wheels overlap.

3. Bake for 10 minutes at 400°F, then flip over and sprinkle with salt. Continue baking until crispy (check every few minutes).

½ cup grated parmigiano reggiano 2 tsp sumac 1 tsp finely grated lemon zest 1 tsp lemon juice 2 sprigs of thyme cured salmon sea salt and coarse ground pepper

DIRECTIONS: 1. In a medium pot, keep the stock warm.

2. In a large saucepan over medium heat, pour in the oil and tilt to cover the bottom of the pan. Add in onions and garlic. Sauté and cook for 2-3 minutes, until softened but not coloured.

3. Add the rice and stir for 1 minute.

4. Add 1 cup of stock and simmer, stirring, until most of the stock has been absorbed.

5. Add another 1/2 cup stock and repeat until the rice is cooked al dente and consistency is creamy.

6. Reduce heat to low, gently stir in the remaining ingredients with the salmon meat, and mix well. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Keep in mind that the salmon will bode high sodium levels.)

TO SERVE: Transfer the risotto to a serving platter, and serve immediately. Once plated, garnish with pea shoots, beet chips and shaved parmesan.

The above information has been graciously provided by Food Network Canada. Season nine of Top Chef Canada premieres on April 19, 2021, at 10 pm ET/PT. Food Network Canada is also available through all major TV service providers and select streaming platforms.

LEADERSHIP | 27

LANGUAGE

Embracing Indigenous Language Revival

By Dr. Kevin wâsakâyâsiw Lewis

Good morning, and how are you today?

It is nice to see you.

It is a lovely day today.

Do you want to have some tea?

Where is the washroom?

T

hese short phrases are commonly used in many languages. We have so many beautiful Indigenous languages that originated from what we know as Turtle Island, also known as North America. In every province in Canada and in all the States below the medicine line, there are numerous diverse Indigenous languages. Let’s explore some strategies to start learning and sharing some of these national treasures.

What do we have on our side right now that can facilitate learning languages? In North America, most of us have access to modern technology. Smart technology, like cell phones for example, opens up a world of possibilities and enables us to access an increasing number of resources, such as Indigenous language apps, free online dictionaries and online Indigenous language courses. Currently, there is a variety of virtual platforms that enables us to attend events and connect with experts from all over the world.

In 2021, one thing is certain, remote learning has evolved from a learning option to a necessity. No matter how old you are, remote learning takes some time to get used to. With some hard work, learning a new language can be eased by making language education fun and interactive.

The rigour of learning a language is to use repetition, repetition and repetition.

Habits need to be developed, and setting goals is a huge part of becoming a successful Indigenous language speaker.

We need to hear words spoken; we need to listen to songs; we need to listen to prayers; and we need to understand basic commands. Seeing pictures and photos helps with language learning. Props such as jackets, hats, plates, chairs, tables and, of course, food, these are all motivators

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nêhiyaw Phrases in Plains Cree with pronunciation guide.

Good morning, and how are you today? miyo-kîkisîpâyâw, tânisi êkwa kîya anohc? (mee-yo kee-gi-see-paa-yaa-w ee-gwa gee-ya a-noo-ch) It is nice to see you. miywâsin ê-wâpamitân. (mee-waa-sin ee-waa-pu-mi-daan) It is a lovely day today. mitoni miyo-kîsikâw anohc. (mi-to-ni mee-yo kee-si-gaaw a-noo-ch) Do you want to have some tea? maskihkîwâpoy kinohtê-minihkwân? (mus-gee-gee-waa-poy ki-noo-tee-mi-nee-gwaan) Where is the washroom? tânitê ôma nikâkî-wayiwêstamâson? (taa-ni-tee oo-mu ni-gaa-gee-wa-yi-wee-sta-maa-so-N)

for learning to communicate. You can use survival phrases, such as the questions and small talk examples above.

The trend right now is online platforms.

I’ve seen the little children get captivated with handheld technologies, as well as our knowledge keepers and Elders alike. We are social beings by nature, and this isolation time has given us new ways to stay in touch with each other. I’ve been on Zoom meetings, Google Classroom, Facetime, Video Messenger and Microsoft Teams with Elders, family members, Indigenous language speakers and colleagues. With long

periods of separation, we can contact each other, and technology is getting better and faster. This constant improvement connects us, which also brings healing, mental health and well-being. These are opportunities to connect with Master Speakers.

To keep Indigenous languages alive, we must embrace modern technology and use it in a way that is respectful of our diverse cultures. In my opinion, we need to see more Indigenous leaders emerging on YouTube.

We need more TikTok in our Indigenous languages. There are still ways to keep our songs sacred but not secret. We can always

LANGUAGE be careful of protecting our knowledge and ceremonies. There is a gap in modern technology and language development that can, and should, be filled by Indigenous industry experts, like designers who can make Indigenous emojis and better apps that can capture our sentences and how our languages are structured.

With so many opportunities and platforms available to us, I truly believe we are at the start of an Indigenous language renaissance.

Dr. Kevin wâsakâyâsiw Lewis is a nêhiyaw (Plains Cree) instructor, researcher and writer from Ministikwan Lake Cree Nation in Treaty 6 Territory. Dr. Lewis has worked with higher-learning institutions within the Prairie Provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta in Indigenous language development and instructional methodologies. Dr. Lewis has worked with community schools in promoting land and language-based education, and is the founder of kâniyâsihk Culture Camps, a non-profit organization focused on holistic community well-being.

He is also a co-developer of Land-Based Cree Immersion School kâ-nêyâsihk mîkiwâhpa.

Dr. Lewis promoting Indigenous teachings from the land with his son Aleksi Houle.

LEADERSHIP | 29

BUSINESS

Good Leadership Lifts Others Up

L

By Teara Fraser and Vanessa Lesperance

ove and lift. Two words that aren’t typically associated with entrepreneurship or business.

However, in the LIFT Circle, where Indigenous women entrepreneurs gather weekly, this is our mantra. The LIFT Circle is an initiative of the not-for-profit Indigenous LIFT Collective founded by Teara Fraser. The vision for the LIFT Circle is to co-create the conditions for Indigenous women entrepreneurs to THRIVE. In our opinion, the current dominant business model is broken. Profit before planet or people. Lack of representation from women or BIPOC (black, Indigenous and people of color) in executive roles or board positions. Unethical and amoral leadership. Increasing mental health leave due to workplace stress and pressure. This is not sustainable, and for that reason, we need change.

Every day / We carry each other / Dreamers with good intentions / That extend far beyond our own needs / Carrying the change that will help / The next seven generations. - Chief Lady Bird The women in our LIFT Circle are leading that change. Indigenous business owners know what it takes to do business in a good way by balancing profit, people, planet and purpose. Looking at the Medicine Wheel as a guide, we know that when we approach anything—including business— holistically and seek balance, that is when we increase our collective well-being.

Part of that well-being comes from being in circle with other women who support, collaborate, amplify, hold space and celebrate one another. This is what our LIFT Circle community represents. We don’t compete with one another, we lift each other up. For example, two women in our circle are the owners of Sisters Sage and the Yukon Soaps Company, and instead of seeing one another as competition, they refer to one another as “soap sisters”. There have also been countless collaborations within our circle by doing giveaways, creating gift boxes and offering Boxing Day campaigns.

A rising tide lifts all canoes—we know that when one Indigenous woman entrepreneur succeeds, we all succeed because she is creating a path for others to follow.

Entrepreneurship and leadership can be a lonely journey; however, part of the reason why our circles are so sacred is because it is a time where women can show up and feel seen, heard, connected and supported by other sisters. Knowing you aren’t alone

Teara Fraser, Métis, founded the not-forprofit Indigenous LIFT Collective. Her vision— collectively LIFTING, amplifying, celebrating and connecting Indigenous Peoples for a sustainable, thriving, better world. Fraser is an aviator and the lead executive at Iskwew Air, the first airline in Canada owned and operated by an Indigenous woman, hence the name “Iskwew” (pronounced “iss-kway-yo”) which is Cree for the word “woman”. Among her many accomplishments, Fraser was named one of Canada’s “Top 25 Women of Influence” in 2020.

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and you don’t need to figure things out on your own can be profound.

Good leadership is acknowledging you can’t possibly know everything; poor leadership is pretending that you do. Good leadership is being your authentic self and leading with the heart; poor leadership fails to acknowledge our heart, emotion and spirit. Good leadership lifts others up.

Our LIFT Circle community is held together by love and lift, and consists of incredible Indigenous women leaders who desire a better world for themselves, their families, their communities and the world.

Doing business in a good way is at the core of our community and is just the solution to fix what currently isn’t working in the world of business. We know Indigenous ways of knowing and being is what the world needs in order to restore massive imbalances and mend what is broken in business practices.

As Indigenous entrepreneurs, we will continue to lead the way to decolonize business by loving and lifting each other, our communities and our planet.

Vanessa Lesperance is a mixed heritage woman born in Treaty 1 territory (Winnipeg) who now resides on the West Coast and is deeply proud of her Métis roots. Vanessa works with Indigenous women entrepreneurs through the LIFT Circle, and she also mentors Indigenous youth across British Columbia in creating their own pop-up businesses. Lesperance has also been published in the World Federation Association of Teacher’s Education journal with a co-written article about leadership traits children look for in leaders.

SHORT TAKE

Jewelry Designs Instill Pride

W

hen Candice Ruhl’s seven-year-old son was discriminated against for his Native American heritage, she was determined to lead by example and rise above, turning a negative situation into a positive. She wanted to empower her son and ensure he felt proud of his heritage.

Being a respected goldsmith and silversmith, Ruhl began designing, creating and crafting the Candice Ruhl line of Native Totem necklaces. As she embarked on this new venture, it was important that her creations were made with honour, integrity, and respect for First Nations and her Native culture.

As a proud member of the Ojibwe Tribe from Saugeen First Nation in Ontario, Canada, Ruhl’s jewelry designs feature animals and natural elements that honour and preserve Native American culture. This collection tells the stories of traditions lost, with the hope that each design gives Indigenous Peoples—especially Native American children— something to be proud of. Her line of Totems are symbols of inspiration, designed to endure the test of time. They are a constant reminder of who we are, and all that we can be.

Native stories and traditions were spoken and not written, and thus lost. I hope that by introducing the world to my line of jewellery, a small part of my heritage will not be lost.

- Candice Ruhl

The Totem is any animal, natural object or being whose spirit and energy we feel closely associated with during life.

The Candise Ruhl jewellery line truly embodies this artist’s dedication to her craft, unwavering commitment to community, and a purposedriven vision come to fruition.

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LAW & JUSTICE

Warrior Women The Heart of Our Nations

By Pamela Palmater

The enduring strength, power and determination of Indigenous women has always been largely underestimated in this country. As both lifegivers and warriors, Indigenous women met colonizers head on in defence of our Nations, and have fought tirelessly against every colonial act that has attempted to destroy us.

C

anada is guilty of both historic and ongoing genocide against Indigenous Peoples, and its colonizing governors specifically targeted Indigenous women and girls for racialized and sexualized violence.

These pre-and post-colonial governments made the assumption that by targeting Indigenous women first, they could weaken our Nations, resulting in our elimination or assimilation. They were wrong.

Historically, Indigenous women played a variety of leadership roles in different Nations, which included acting as interpreters, trade negotiators, political strategists, and critical decision-makers over both land use and defence. We would be millions of people stronger in our Nations today if not for the violence that resulted from Canada’s laws, policies and practices that shaped its economies, governing systems and societal attitudes towards Indigenous Peoples.

But we are still here due in no small part to Indigenous women warriors. Mary TwoAxe Early (Kahnawake) spent decades fighting to stop Canada from removing First Nations women and children from Indian status and band membership.

Jeanette Corbiere-Lavell (Wikwemikong), Yvonne Bedard (Six Nations), Sandra Lovelace-Nicholas (Tobique), and Sharon McIvor (Lower Nicola) followed her lead and all challenged Canada in court.

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These warrior women helped reunite First Nations women and children with their First Nations. They are the grandmothers to thousands.

Similarly, Cindy Blackstock (Gitksan) has spent well over a decade fighting Canada in tribunals, courts, Parliament and the United Nations seeking to end racial discrimination against First Nations children in foster care. She has led a powerful

That is why Indigenous women have come to be known as the heart of our Nations—because they give life and protect it.

from destruction by pipelines. Kanahus Manuel (Secwepemc) leads the way with Tiny House Warriors, defending their lands from the Trans Mountain pipeline and the dangers posed by man camps, while Cheryl Maloney (Mi’kmaq at Sipekne’katik) effectively held off Alton Gas from poisoning our rivers.

That is why Indigenous women have come to be known as the heart of our Nations— because they give life and protect it. In the battle to end the racialized, sexualized violence that is Canada’s ongoing genocide, Indigenous women warriors will be there every step of the way to meet them head on until we have justice for our Peoples and our planet. There are countless, unnamed warriors on the ground caring for our Peoples everyday in every circumstance.

movement of children and families to be witnesses to Canada’s discrimination so we can force them to end it.

To these warrior women and all the mothers, fathers, aunties, uncles, cousins and elders that support them, welal’ioq (thank you). To Canada, brace yourself— Indigenous women warriors are coming for what is ours.

Warrior women like Ellen Gabriel (Kanesatake) carried the responsibility of spokesperson during the siege at Oka by police and military. Freda Huson (Unist’ot’en), Molly Wickham (Gidimt’en) and other clan members from the Wet’suwet’en Nation have spent years defending the lands and waters

Pamela Palmater is a Mi’kmaw lawyer, author and social justice activist from Eel River Bar First Nation (New Brunswick). She currently holds the position of Professor and Chair in Indigenous Governance at Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario.

YOUTH LEADERSHIP

Métis Youth Leader Tracie Léost Supports the

Rise of Indigenous Youth

A

t 22 years young, Tracie Léost is a full-time student in her last semester of her Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Regina (Saskatchewan, Canada). She is a trailblazer who has won numerous national awards for her athletics, academics, and commitment to her people and her community.

She is the founder of Waanishka Movement Inc., a not-for-profit organization that exists to support the rise of Indigenous young people. So why, at such a young age, did she decide to embark on this venture?

Because she’s been overcoming obstacles her whole life—fighting stereotypes and bullying as a child and never really feeling like she fit in. Waanishka, in Michif, is a command to get up and rise. Having been raised in a predominantly white neighbourhood in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and in an education system that didn’t support her heritage or her identity, Léost wishes there had been an organization like this to turn to when she was growing up.

“As the fastest, and youngest, growing demographic in Canada—the power is in the hands of Indigenous youth,” said Léost. As a young adult, she recognized the need for her peers to see themselves represented in an organization that creates a safe space for them to connect and have conversations about things that matter to them. This is particularly important on social media platforms. “They need to see themselves represented in places where they frequent,” she explained. Waanishka Movement Inc. creates virtual spaces for youth to connect, but they also host a Book Club and run a Sweetgrass leadership program. The leadership program— designed by Elders, knowledge-keepers and community members—uses the Seven Sacred Grandfather Teachings to share cultural teachings while developing life and social skills.

Léost’s perseverance comes from a deep love for her family and culture. Raised by strong hardworking parents, she was

immersed in her family’s Métis culture and spent a lot of time with her Kokum and cousins in St. Laurent, Manitoba.

Once she graduates this coming spring, Léost will be a first-generation university graduate on her mother’s side and a second-generation graduate on her father’s side. When asked what the driving force is behind her interest in social work, she explained that she never really understood that going to university was an option for her, partly due to the discrimination she faced as a child, but also because she

didn’t see others in her family pursuing higher education. It wasn’t until grade eleven that Léost made the connection. “I really started to delve into the history of systemic racism with Indigenous people. I didn’t realize how big of a deal it was, and is, for Indigenous youth to even just graduate from high school and not come into contact with child welfare or end up in a youth incarceration facility.”

Once Léost felt more connected to her past, she became more active and involved as an advocate for her people—the driving force behind her pursuit of social work and all that she does as a leader and activist.

After graduating from university, Léost plans to do whatever she can to bridge the gap in social services as a frontline worker and in influencing policy. She’s not sure what city she will end up in, but she plans to continue to work directly with children and youth, empowering them to embrace their generational resilience and supporting them on their journey to get up and rise.

In 2014, Léost won three bronze medals under the Métis flag at the North American Indigenous Games in Regina, Saskatchewan.

She is the recipient of the Manitoba Aboriginal Youth Achievement Award and the YWCA Women of Distinction, Gerrie Hammond Memorial Award of Promise. In 2016, Léost was the recipient of the Young Humanitarian Award and the Manitoba Hero Award, and, in 2018, she was the recipient of the Indspire Youth Métis Award. In February, Léost was inducted into the Order of Gabriel Dumont, receiving the bronze medal, one of the Métis Nation’s highest civilian honours.

A SAY Magazine editorial team collaboration.

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