As an Indigenous traditional artist and entrepreneur, I’ve always believed in the power of storytelling. Each piece I created was a narrative, a reflection of my culture, the visual and  contemporary “landscapes” that inspire me. Over time, I realized that storytelling goes beyond art; it’s a tool for building community and fostering change.

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This insight guided me to my current role as an Indigenous Ecosystem Coordinator in an organization focused on social impact entrepreneurship, businesses and nonprofits. Recently, I have been given the opportunity to begin to harness the stories of our people located in Treaty 7 territory, aiming to empower individuals and strengthen our community with the knowledge of these successes. These stories are from individuals, small businesses and soon, larger companies, whose beginnings vary but have one thing in common, kinship. I’ve noticed that strong familial ties, cultural traditions, language, and a deep connection to the land serve as the foundation for their innovative and sustainable businesses, practices, and community-driven initiatives.

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This leads me to tell you of how small yet wide-spread the Indigenous community is across Canada. We represent a small percentage of Canada's population of almost 40 Million, 5% to be exact or 1.8 million indigenous people. We are now in an era of growth and prosperity not only in our own home communities but also in larger cities as we expand our work from home opportunities up to and including corporate roles. Just like back in our history, we as a people, move to where we can flourish and thrive.

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Seeing many successful Indigenous people and businesses firsthand at various events—conferences, workshops, and cultural gatherings—has shown me that we are crafting a narrative of resilience, innovation, and kinship whether we are close to home or in a larger community. My family ties are in Manitoba, and although I’ve lived in Calgary for ten years, my new career has allowed me to connect with relatives from both of my late parents' Nations. The instant connections felt genuine, allowing us to fill in familial gaps and explore how we are all related—an ongoing conversation that I cherish. I am truly where I belong, both in terms of location and my career. Join me on this journey of transformation and storytelling!