By Nikki Sanchez 
@nikkilaes

I don’t want to sound like the Grinch, but being bombarded with cult-like consumer messaging like, “only 23 days left to get your Christmas shopping done!” or “find the perfect gift for your partner” from December First onwards is something I could live without.

In the holiday frenzy, corporations are counting on us to abandon our critical thinking skills. Environmentally, the effects of runaway holiday consumption are disastrous. From late November to early January, household waste increases by more than 25 per cent. This includes food waste, plastic packaging and trashed old items replaced with newer versions received as gifts. For instance, up to 40 per cent of holiday food is wasted. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, over the holidays, more than 1 Million additional tonnes of waste per week end up in landfills across North America. As far as gift giving goes, five billion pounds of returned gifts end up in the landfill every year and within three months, it’s estimated that 41 per cent of children’s gifts end up broken and in the trash. 

I promise that I am not here to rain on your holiday parade or try and convince you not to engage in the spirit of giving. Instead, this is an invitation to pause the chaos for a moment while I share some amazing, independently-owned Indigenous businesses.

If you must consume, why not skip the corporate giants who are known for their exploitative labor practices and instead do so mindfully by supporting independent, socially conscious, community-minded businesses and causes? As Mandy Nahanee, a cultural practitioner and business development consultant from the Squamish Nation, puts it, “what is so special about supporting Indigenous businesses is that you are supporting families to stay together. When you patronize Indigenous businesses, you are investing in cultural revitalization.” 

You, and only you, should dictate what you do or don’t buy. Combining critical awareness with purchasing power allows you to support diversity, equity and altruistic initiatives you are passionate about while also finding unique, one of a kind items to give or keep, at anytime of the year! 

Shops

Below are some of my all time favourite companies. From make-up to clothing to traditionally harvested body care, Indigenous entrepreneurs are revitalizing cultural wisdom, practices, art and design through their work and making it accessible for everyone. Many of them generously offered promo codes for Loose Lips readers! 

SECTION 35 
@sectionthirtyfive

Co-founder and Creative Director Justin Louis from the Samson Cree Nation in Maskwacis, Alberta in Treaty 6 Territory started this bold line to bring authentic Indigenous representation to streetwear. Recently featured in Vogue, the Vancouver-based brand merges Indigenous art, lifestyle and culture into one medium with the intention of “providing our people with pride and something that reflects who we are to the core.” Justin offered promo code “BUYINDG” for Loose Lips readers along with the message “I absolutely believe that non-indigenous patrons should support indigenous businesses. Our people deserve to be represented and to have the ability to support themselves through their own art and enterprise. So don’t buy some cheesy rip-off or appropriated piece. Buy authentic and buy Indigenous.” Bonus: for those in Vancouver you can order online and do direct pick up in town. 

Cheekbone Beauty 
@cheekbonebeauty 

Founder and CEO Jenn Harper, Ojibwe Bear Clan member of Northwest Angle #33 First Nation in Ontario, brought together her passion for beauty and her commitment to equitable education for Indigenous youth to create Cheekbone Beauty. It is the first socially conscious beauty brand owned by an Indigenous woman. Cheekbone’s aim is to not only make a difference in the lives of Indigenous youth through addressing the educational funding crisis but to also create a space in the beauty industry where Indigenous youth feel represented. The high-quality, cruelty-free line will also be launching a zero-waste line of lipsticks in 2020. Use the discount code “CONSCIOUS” for 10% off. 

Skwalwenbotanicals
@skwalwenbotanicals

“Creating luxuriant self-care products grounded in Indigenous knowledge is one way to support decolonizing, and providing more Indigenous representation in, the apothecary space.” Sḵwálwen (skwall – win) is an Indigenous business, created by Styawat from the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) First and Snuneymuxw First Nations. They offer small batch botanical skin care products that honour traditional Skwxwú7mesh plant knowledge by incorporating wild harvested plants and organic, high quality ingredients. Their wild plant ingredients are harvested in a sustainable and respectful way and each product has a Squamish name to honour the place where this plant knowledge comes from. The motivating force behind Skwalwen is to contribute directly to Indigenous resurgence through supporting the renewal of cultural plant knowledge.

Indigenous Intentions 
@indigenousintentions 

Indigenous Intentions—a collective of Indigenous artisans and designers that from the Southern Ute, Maliseet, Anishinaabe and Creek Nations— designs traditional jewelry with a modern twist. The brand was created with the purpose of increasing awareness for Indigenous and Womxn causes. In their words, “jewelry is a beautiful part of our Indigenous culture and what better way to make an impact and invest back into the community than by launching collections philanthropist initiatives like #MoreThanABracelet.” A portion of the proceeds from their MMIW Collections go to MMIWUSA. Use the promo code LOOSELIPS2019. 

Warren Steven Scott
@warrenstevenscott

Warren Steven Scott a member of Nlaka’pamux Nation. His jewelry line is the culmination of his debut collection showcased at the inaugural Indigenous Fashion Week in Toronto spring 2018. Check his website and you will quickly understand why he is becoming widely known for his line of acrylic jewelry inspired by the motifs and design lines of the Pacific Northwest. His earrings utilize and celebrate formline, positive and negative space and marry modernity with traditional. 

Quwutsun Made 
@quwutsunmade

Quw’utsun’ Made is a contemporary lifestyle apothecary that integrates ancestral knowledge. The line is made by Arianna Lauren from Quw’utsun’ (Cowichan Tribes, Coast Salish), her motivating vision is “to connect our modern lives with the natural world. I want to remind society that every single person on planet earth comes from plants!” On supporting Indigenous businesses, she imparts the wisdom, “not only do Indigenous business owners have to fight for space in non-Indigenous retail, we also have to educate every consumer on why our product sets us apart from the average. Indigenous business/services/products are constantly producing to teach, enlighten, and share our culture in order to bridge an archaic gap.”  Use the promo code OSIEM for 10% off your first purchase. 

Indicity
@indi_city 

Created by Alex and Angel Aubichon-Manitopyes (Peepeekisis-Cree), Indicity is more than jewelry, it is wearable art and regalia. Their work is inspired by taking pride in ancestral connection to this land and everything they create is intended to be a mindful acknowledgement to their bloodlines, and the Grandmothers and Grandfathers that made it possible for them to be here to share Indigenous fashion with the world. 

Sea Wisdom Design 
@ms.seawisdom 

This stunning jewelry line is the creation of Agnes Seaweed Wisden. Her traditional name is łlilawikw (Klah-lila-week) which means “gatherer of the people”. She is Kwakwakw’wakw and belongs to the Mama̱liliḵa̱la, Maʼa̱mtagila, Ławitʼsis , and Kwaguʼł tribal groups. Agnes is Artist in Residence at Skwachàys Lodge in Vancouver, BC and uses silversmithing to bring together her family’s art traditions with the inspiration she takes from big ocean swells and misty coastal forests. 

Reads 

Here are some great recommendations for anyone looking for a good book to curl up or cook with over the dark, cold winter months. 

Stories from the Magic Canoe by Cecil Paul and Briony Penn 

Required reading for all British Columbians. This powerfully told biography brings to life the teachings of Xenaksiala Elder Cecil Paul. In it, he tells the story of how he brought not only his community, but allies from all over the world together to save the Kitlope, the place of his birth and the largest contiguous old growth temperate rainforest on Earth. This book offers a glimpse of what reconciliation could look like from an Indigenous perspective. 

The Wound is a World by Billy Rae Belcourt 

Both political and intimate, this Griffin Prize winning book of poetry is written by twenty-three year old visionary Billy Rae Belcourt from the Drift Pile Cree Nation. Beyond leaving you breathless with their eloquence, Belcourt’s poems offer a glimpse into the contemporary, Canadian Indigenous youth experience. 

Tawâw Cookbook by Shane Chartrand

Born to Cree parents and raised by a Métis father and Mi’kmaw-Irish mother, Shane Chartrand spent the past decade learning his history and visiting with other First Nations peoples across the country. The result this masterpiece of Indigenous knowledge, stories and recipes. 

Experiences

Tangible gifts are cool, but memories last forever! Below enjoyable and educational places to go, eat and experience the outdoors in Vancouver and the Island. 

Fill your belly at Salmon N Bannock 

If you love food as much as I do, I guarantee this will become one of your happy places. The love child of Inez Cook, a proud Nuxalk woman, Salmon N Bannock serves wild fish, free range organic game and made by a team from different nations. They are just about to celebrate their 10th anniversary and over the past decade, have award won countless awards and remain rated in the top 10 best restaurants in Vancouver on Trip Advisor. Tell them Nikki sent you! 

Indigenous Stand-up with Savanah Erasmus 
@_notsavannah

I was introduced to Savannah this November through her talk on intimacy and attraction for Grace Club. Within the first three minutes she had made me both laugh and cry. She is nehiyawiskwew sôhkihtâkosiw (Cree woman with a strong voice) from Kikino, Albert. Savannah brings so much truth, joy and glamour on stage with her. When I asked her about her stand-up persona, she explained her intention “to have an impact by showing mainstream media that Indigenous people are brilliant, hilarious, GLAMOROUS and RESILIENT.” Follow @Millennialline and @theyre.hot.show on Instagram to stay looped in to her upcoming  shows. 

Talasay Tours 

Be an amazing host for visitors or take time to deepen your relationship with the territories you live on with Talaysay Tours. They offer eco-tourism experiences in and around Vancouver, Squamish and the Sunshine Coast. Their First Nation guides share ancient and contemporary stories, legends, and our Indigenous ways of life. season.

T’ashii Paddle School 

Owned operated by Tsmika Martin, Tla-o-qui-aht this surf, paddle and SUP school based out of Tofino offers many ways to explore the beaches and waters of Clayoquot Sound while also learning place-based history, traditions and culture. 

Causes 

For the socially conscious folx in your life, below are three incredible initiatives aimed to solve social, environmental and animal rights challenges. One of the ways I love to engage with non-profits is by bringing people together for dinner or movie nights as awareness raising and fundraising events.  

Save Rez Dogs

I cannot say enough wonderful things about Save Rez Dogs! The initiative was started 3 years ago by educator Leah Arcand from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation. As a teacher, Save Rez Dogs was born from Leah’s sense of responsibility to model kindness to animals and help her students understand dogs traditional roles in Indigenous communities. Save Rez dogs is both pedagogy and direct action, guided by elders and cultural teachings. In Leah’s words, “it is clear that there is a dog management issue in most of our Indigenous communities and the best way I can help these dogs is to speak up for them. As an Educator, Dog Mom, and New Mom, I want Save Rez Dogs to be a call to action for our communities to improve and reclaim our relationships with our dogs”. Check out their website for incredible learning resources, an adorable gallery and awesome merch! 

Tiny House Warriors

Led by the Manuel sisters from  Secwepemc territory, Tiny House Warriors mission is to stop the Trans Mountain pipeline from crossing unceded Secwepemc Territory. They are constructing ten tiny houses powered by solar and placed strategically along the 518 km Trans Mountain pipeline route through interior British Columbia. Check out their website to donate and connect with ways to organize a build in your own community. 

Warriors Against Violence

Based out of the Lower Eastside, Warriors Against Violence is one of the very few programs that offers counselling and recovery programs that focus on men who have committed abuse. While there is much research supporting the efficacy of working with perpetrators of abuse as a prevention strategy, there are still very little programs that take this approach. WAV aims to restore the traditional Indigenous values of honour, respect and equality and their Circle of Life program includes elders, lifegivers, men, and youth. They rely on donations to operate, so if MMIWG2s+ is a cause that you or someone you love care about consider making a donation.

Nikki Sanchez is a Pipil/Maya and Irish/Scottish academic, Indigenous media maker and environmental educator. Nikki holds a master’s degree in Indigenous Governance and is presently completing a PhD with a research focus on emergent Indigenous media. She is the presenter of a TEDx presentation entitled “Decolonization is for Everyone.” Her most recent media project is the VICELAND series RISE which focused on global Indigenous resurgence. RISE debuted at Sundance in and has received global critical acclaim, recently winning the Canadian Screen Guild Award for Best Documentary series. For the past decade, Nikki has worked as an Indigenous environmental educator, curriculum developer, and media consultant. She is the founder of Decolonize Together, an independent consulting company which specializes in decolonial and equity training for businesses and institutions. She is a keynote speaker with Keynote Canada and a contributor to TEDx, The Hundreds, Last Real Indians and ROAR Magazine.