Celebrate Indigenous creatives
June is National Indigenous History Month.
Introduced in 2009, as an avenue to “educate, connect and promote reconciliation in Canada,” according to a news release from Indigenous Tourism B.C. (ITBC), the month-long recognition provides the perfect opportunity to listen to, learn from and support the Indigenous community.
On June 21, which marks National Indigenous Peoples Day, ITBC is taking its annual Indigenous Cultural Festival online (due to social distancing) and is offering several virtual options for marking the event.
To build on the support and celebration of Indigenous creatives, we’ve rounded up five of our favourite fashion and beauty brands created by Indigenous artists and artisans.
SISTERS SAGE
Created by siblings Lynn-marie and Melissa-rae Angus, Sisters Sage is an Indigenous wellness brand that merges traditional knowledge and medicine with handmade craftsmanship. The Anguses, who are from the Gitxaala, Nisga’a and Metis Nations, create bath bombs, soaps, salves and more all “made with Mother Earth in mind.”
EVAN DUCHARME
Vancouver-based fashion designer Evan Ducharme creates clothing designs inspired by traditional artisanship and “contemporary Indigeneity.” The latest collection from the Metis artist, who has ancestral ties to the Cree, Ojibwe and Saulteaux Peoples, features hand-embroidered mesh on a variety of silhouettes including the stunning Edna Matriarch Dress.
JUST A LITTLE NATIVE
Prince George artisan Alice Spenst, who is part of the Saulteau First Nations Cree, creates detailed earrings, hair barrettes and dream catchers, the majority of which are decorated with intricate beadwork patterns. Spenst uses a variety of materials for her beadwork, including glass, seed, acrylic, wood, shell and crystal.
SECTION 35
Offering a streetwear esthetic for men, women and children, Section 35 founder Justin Louis creates pieces ranging from hats and T-shirts to limited-edition, upcycled capsule collections. The sale of the Nehiyaw and Plains Cree designer’s latest design, a long-sleeved shirt created in collaboration with Red Works that reads “This is Indian Land,” will see all profits donated to the Garden River First Nation food bank.
CHEEKBONE BEAUTY
Founder Jenn Harper, of Anishinaabe ancestry, launched her line Cheekbone Beauty in 2016 with a mission to create makeup products, in Canada, that are cruelty free — and give back to First Nations communities. The Ontario-based company offers a comprehensive lineup of cosmetics, with a portion of the proceeds going to the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society.