Amplifying
Indigenous Voices

Entrepreneur. Cultural ambassador. Guide. Canadian. There are many words that Kylik Kisoun Taylor now identifies with, but none came easily at first. It took returning to the North, and becoming re-rooted in his culture to get where he is today.

At 11 years old Joe Buffalo was taken from his community and put into a residential school. Once he came of age he got himself out and his love and passion for skateboarding allowed him to transcend the negativity that surrounded him and gave him the opportunity to tour the country and quickly became one of Canada's best young skateboarders.

Teara Fraser is the first Indigenous woman to launch an airline in Canada, Iskwew Air. Prior to this, as a single mother with two kids, she was working various jobs to provide for her family. At age 30, on a trip to Africa she took her first flight in a small plane and fell in love with flying. Teara found her inspiration for her new path in the air.

Jaimie Davis is a traditional cedar bark weaver, wood sculptor, painter and jewelry designer. Her company Jada Collection is a reflection of her and who she is as an Indigenous person. Jaimie creates beautiful art pieces that tell stories of her ancestors and celebrates her culture.

DJ Shub began connecting to his culture when he started making powwow step. The first time he combined powwow and dubstep he felt a deep connection to the music. Now his powwow step creates a unique, modern gathering space for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to connect over beating drums.

There was a period of time where the Haida language was quiet, when it was oppressed. Thanks to the work of resilient elders and young people passionate about this fundamental part of their culture, there has been an increasing number of resources available for people who want to practice or learn to speak Haida. As a Haida Language and Culture Curriculum Implementation Teacher, Jaskwaan creates a nurturing space for her community to access their language.

Olivia C. Davies is an Indigenous contemporary choreographer, performer and emerging curator. Growing up as an adopted child, she was never told that she was Indigenous. Olivia did some searching, found her biological family, and asked some hard questions about their family’s culture. She discovered her Indigenous lineage and learned that she could continue to grow into herself together with others who share her experience.

Jaalen Edenshaw is a Haida carver whose work can be seen all over Canada. A member of the Ts’aahl – Eagle Clan of the Haida Nation, Jaalen grew up surrounded by art and began training at a young age, working with renowned carvers like his father, Guujaaw, and James Hart. Inspired by the Old Masters before him, Jaalen looks to the past as an influence for his contemporary work.

Leigh Joseph (Styawat), who is from Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) First Nation, has rediscovered her culture and community by studying and wild harvesting from the land. For Squamish people the land is their pharmacy and their grocery store, Leigh contributes to the renewal of cultural knowledge by learning from and teaching about indigenous plants through her wellness company.