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ISSUE 93 EC. DEV. 2018
SINCE 2002
BUSINESS
Indigenous Entrepreneurs Fuel Economic Growth Spotlight on Smart Cities Challenge Finalist from Manitoba Cover Sponsored By:
Speakers Bureau Introducing
The International Indigenous Speakers Bureau “Representing Today’s Indigenous Champions” PM 43436539 PRINTED IN CANADA $6.99
“I can see the long-term benefits of having an education and getting your career on track earlier rather than later.” CHELSEA ARNESTAD Hometown: Hagen, SK Nation: Métis Program: Business certificate
CATCH YOUR CAREER DREAM with Saskatchewan Polytechnic!
Sask Polytech supports you in your educational journey. We have reserved seats in all programs and 200+ student awards for Indigenous students. Counsellors and advisors at every campus are available to help you settle into student life and find housing, child care and tutoring. Each campus has an Indigenous students’ centre where students can study, hang out or meet with an Elder. Learn more at saskpolytech.ca/Indigenous.
saskpolytech 2 | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 2018
SINCE 2002
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Cover Story: International Indigenous Speakers Bureau–The First of its Kind
CONTENTS ISSUE 93
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Economic Development 2018
Business Profile: Meet Inspiring Entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Okwaho Equal Source, Shyra Barberstock
SAY MAGAZINE Volume 17, Issue 8 SAY Magazine publishes eight times a year: Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall, as well as Made in Manitoba, Back2School, Economic Development and Education Guide issues. SAY Magazine is published by Spirit of Aboriginal Youth Inc. 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
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. ISSN: 1707-3049 All copy copyright 2018 by SAY Magazine GST: 856627534RT0001
Editor-in-Chief/Sales Manager Danielle Vienneau editor@saymag.com
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Editor/Writer Sarah Vaage
A 10-Year Dream Becomes Reality for a Thunder Bay Woman Art of Native America: The Charles and Valerie Diker Collection Literature – “The Same River”
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Indigenous Businesses Recognized for Excellence
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Music
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Rock Your Mocs
Subscriptions subscriptions@saymag.com Art Director Orli Gelfat - Orli G. Design
Printed on recycled paper using vegetable based inks.
Printed in Canada Website and Social Media Sphere Media Agency info@spheremediaagency.com Submissions are welcome. Articles, letters, queries etc. should be sent by email to the editor at editor@saymag.com. Connect with us: www.facebook.com/saymagazine https://twitter.com/SAYMagazine www.pinterest.ca/SAYMagazine
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Innovation Brings One Northern Manitoba Community One Step Closer to the 10-Million-Dollar Prize
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Profile: Meet Entrepreneur and Motivational Speaker, Savvy Simon
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 2018 | 3
COVER STORY
International Indigenous Speakers Bureau Inspiring. Empowering. Uplifting. Founded in 2016, the International Indigenous Speakers Bureau (IISB) is the first of its kind where Indigenous speakers and Knowledge-Keepers are provided a platform to share their gifts on a global stage and audiences have the opportunity to access the wealth of Indigenous knowledge and perspectives.
The Demand for Indigenous Speakers
With the present demand for Indigenous speakers, unless you know a friend who has a friend, finding an appropriate one can often be difficult and very time-consuming. With access to a huge range of Indigenous talents through IISB they will help you find the Indigenous speaker you are looking for. IISB takes the mystery out of the process by providing access to a 8 | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 2018
large, diverse roster of Indigenous speakers. Another one of the biggest challenges is not just ‘who’ to connect with, but ‘how’. IISB takes special care to provide a welcoming environment for its clients to ask questions and learn. From beginning to end IISB helps clients choose the right speaker, develop a positive speaker-client relationship and do what they can to ensure everyone involved has a successful experience.
Investing in our People
The commitment and support IISB provides to its speakers is unparalleled. Indigenous people come from a world of storytellers and understand the power of the spoken word. Stories can heal, inspire and transform lives. For this reason,
much time and care is taken to develop each speaker’s individual story, empowering them to value their gifts and talents, and find their voice. IISB is dedicated to improving the financial sustainability of Indigenous speakers, ensuring Indigenous speakers are seen, heard and valued around the globe.
Circle of Honouring
One of the most important mandates of IISB is ensuring Indigenous speakers are honoured appropriately. Back in the day, when people came to our Indigenous communities to share their gifts of knowledge, expertise and story, they were honoured to the highest degree. It was an Indigenous way of knowing that when something was given, something
COVER STORY of equal or greater value was given back. This ensures sustainability and growth of a community. Back then that meant that the Knowledge-Keeper was well taken care of; they were fed, clothed, housed and their families were taken care of as well. This was also usually for a season, not a day. Today we cannot go out and shoot a buffalo for someone or invite a family in to live with us, but we can make sure they are able to feed, clothe and shelter their families, and prosper in the process. This means making sure that the gifts the Indigenous speakers are offering are remunerated on par with industry standards and at the same level as non-Indigenous speakers. “When we come from this approach of honouring appropriately, we encourage a process of developing sustainability and growth. We also encourage the development of relationships from a respectful place and avoid coming from the old practice of tokenism,” said Shannon Loutitt, CEO of the IISB.
Speakers and Knowledge-Keepers it offer a wealth of solutions and insights IISB speakers cover a plethora of topics including education, health and healing, science (such as genetics and engineering), sport, film, economics, and fashion, just to name a few.
Upon visiting their website you may note a few familiar Canadian icons like Michelle Thrush (actress) and Andrea Menard (actress/singer), among other global champions.
The Indigenous Lens
Often when people think about what an Indigenous speaker can do for them, they associate that with learning about Indigenous history, culture, dance or legends. Although this can be true, IISB’s CEO Shannon Loutitt says Indigenous speakers bring something else that is equally valuable: “They bring their Indigenous lens.” Indigenous speakers provide a unique perspective on the world we live in, and with
to many modern-day issues. Science has proven that the Western World tends to see things through a narrow sharp focused lens, which is great for getting a detailed perspective. That lens is very effective at drilling down or focusing like a telescope view, whereas Indigenous people see the world through a wider holistic lens, allowing them to connect the dots on many seemingly unrelated issues. Both lenses are extremely valuable to our world, and we can use both of them to problem solve. Until recently, it’s predominantly been the Western lens that has been used to find solutions to our world’s problems. But times are changing, and the world is recognizing that we need more ideas and perspectives to address our planetary challenges. IISB provides the ideal platform for organizations who want to access that Indigenous lens, through leaders, experts and advisors from around the world. Continued on page 11
MAKE IT YOUR BUSINESS
clarencecampeau.com
We are the first stop for Saskatchewan’s Métis entrepreneurs and communities. Shannon Loutitt International Indigenous Speakers Bureau
Our unique ability to provide market intelligence, financing, skills training and ongoing support serve to build a solid foundation vital to your business success.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 2018 | 9
COVER STORY
The Cure is in our
DNA and to find it genetics needs to be more Native!
Photo by Ryan Lash/TED
The Indigenous Lens is already providing answers and creating incredible advances. One example of this is Hawaiian Geneticist Dr. Keolu Fox’s efforts to bring attention to the fact that genetic research is crippled from a lack of diversity, and he wants to make genetics more Native. “Ninety-six percent of genome studies are based on people of European descent. The rest of the world is virtually unrepresented - and this is dangerous,” said Fox, “because we react to drugs differently based on our genetic makeup.” But that’s not all. What if the cure for a disease also lies in these genetic variances? Questions like these are what prompted
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IISB’s speaker, Dr. Fox, to become the geneticist he is today, and to explore the links between human genetic variation and disease in underrepresented populations. “The issue is that Indigenous people don’t trust western institutions because of a history of exploitation,” said Fox. By working with and advocating for Indigenous populations to be involved in research, Fox is helping put science into the hands of Indigenous communities through a new mobile genome sequencing device. For more information on Dr. Fox and his work visit www.iispeakersbureau.com.
COVER STORY The Importance of Developing and Checks ‘n’ Balances, to our website developers at Route413.com, the passion and Relationships “Success comes from aligning yourself with people and organizations that believe in your dream and want to help get you there,” said Loutitt.
The Clarence Campeau Development Fund (CCDF) has been a fundamental contributor to the success of IISB. They are providing the necessary expertise and support for business planning and start-up in Saskatchewan, Canada. CCDF has assisted in making IISB’s dream a reality. “The most beneficial part of this relationship is that the staff and organization don’t treat us as a number, but as family,” said Loutitt. “They are always there to provide support along the way, whether that is advice, networking opportunities or just a listening ear. They understand that many Métis entrepreneurs feel like ‘they are on an island of their own’ – the CCDF go above and beyond to show their clients that they are not.” As an Indigenous organization, Loutitt says it is extremely important for IISB to continually build bridges in as many areas as they can. “It’s not just the clients and their audiences we want to help educate and connect with, but the organizations we work with on a daily basis.” IISB commits to working with non-Indigenous organizations they feel come with the right heart and intent for working with Indigenous people. “I need to know that there is a real desire and intent to engage positively with Indigenous people and grow forward together,” said Loutitt. “All of our suppliers and partners have that, and go above and beyond to express their commitment to our success and that of Indigenous people. From our accounting professionals at McClelland Debusschere
commitment to contributing to our growth has been there from day one.” Loutitt believes that while it’s important to work with organizations she would consider “Indigenous-friendly”, it’s equally important to let others in our communities know about them and the work they do. “Too often we see only the things that
are going wrong in the world. Our people deserve to also see what is going right.” IISB is committed to also sharing the stories and names of the organizations they work with that exemplify the good needed in our Indigenous world.
Virtual Interactive Presentations (VIP)
Inspired by this belief in education, IISB has been developing a fresh application of technology, designed to bring Indigenous role models and content from around the world directly into the classroom. These VIPs will provide educators with an interactive learning experience that connects to their curriculum and their students. IISB will make finding Indigenous knowledge and perspectives easier and affordable with VIP presentations. Look for more information about these on the IISB website.
Connect with an IISB Speaker
For more information, to book a speaker, nominate a speaker or apply to become a speaker visit https://iispeakersbureau.com.
“The IISB has been pivotal in my emergence as a professional speaker. The support, guidance and mentorship has been both empowering and uplifting. Working with Shannon has been a true joy and I feel her authentic passion to support and raise Indigenous voices has helped me see my worth and find my voice. I am proud and honoured to be in the IISB family.” - Deanna Burgart P.Eng CET, President & Indigeneer of Indigenous Engineering Inclusion Inc.
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MUSIC
Frank Waln Frank Waln (Sicangu Lakota) is a Rapper/ Hip Hop artist, music producer and activist from the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. Growing up in one of the poorest counties of the nation, Waln beat the odds and turned passion into success through the art of music and rap. This young entrepreneur produced, wrote and recorded his first song at just 16 years old and now travels the world telling his story through performance and music, and delivers workshops which focus on healing, self-empowerment and expression of truth. Waln is an award-winning musician and role model whose work reveals his personal stories of struggle and hope, and his passion for Indigenous resilience, which resounds with a large audience of Indigenous and non-Indigenous fans. His awards include three Native American Music Awards among other accolades, in-
cluding being named a recipient of the 2014 Native American 40 Under 40 award presented by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, the 2014 Chicago Mayor’s Award for Civic Engagement and the 2016 3Arts Grant for Chicago Artists. Most recently Waln was granted the 2018 National Artist Fellowship for Artistic Innovation by the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation. A recipient of the Gates Millennium Scholarship, Waln pursued his education at Columbia College Chicago where he received a BA in Audio Arts and Acoustics. His creative gifts have afforded him the opportunity to write for various publications including Decolonization: Indigeneity, Education, and Society and The Guardian and he has been featured in Buzzfeed, The Fader, Vibe, NPR, ESPN, and MTV’s Rebel Music Native America.
Rock
Your Mocs Rock Your Mocs is a world-wide social media movement that celebrates Indigenous culture and individuality. Hosted annually in November to coincide with Native American Heritage Month in the United States, the movement encourages people of all Indigenous backgrounds to wear their moccasins to school, work or wherever else life takes them. Those who don’t own or don’t wear moccasins can support the movement by wearing a turquoise awareness ribbon or RYM t-shirt. Rock Your Mocs was founded in 2011 by Jessica “Jaylyn” Atsye from Laguna, New Mexico, USA. Atsye had
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always been proud to wear her moccasins and wondered why it was not more commonplace for Indigenous peoples to wear them throughout the year. “Moccasins identify who I am. They have a lot of culture in them,” she said. So, Atsye decided to start a day where people could share and celebrate their culture by wearing their moccasins. What started out as a fun day celebrated by 10 of Atsye’s friends is now celebrated by over 1,000 people all over the world. In 2013 Atsye partnered with Emergence Productions, a Native American owned event production company, and since then Rock Your Mocs has grown from a single-day event hosted on November 15th to a week-long world-wide cultural empowerment initiative that unites Indigenous peoples while celebrating tribal individuality, and honouring ancestors and Indigenous peoples worldwide.
Participants are encouraged to share their photos and stories on social media with the hashtag #Rock YourMocs. However, the celebration has moved past just sharing photos on social media, with many individuals, organizations, businesses, schools, museums and tribes taking the initiative to create their own events, such as moccasin-making workshops, round dances, group photos and awareness events to celebrate their culture. This year Rock Your Mocs was celebrated from November 12 to 17. Participation and social media posts came from all over the United States and Canada, and from countries around the world, like Russia, Hungary, New Zealand and the Netherlands.
Mocs Rock Your Mocs will be celebrated in 2019 from November 9 to 16.
MUSIC
ROBERT
“FREIGHTRAIN” PARKER
American songwriter and recording artist Robert “Freightrain” Parker is a multiple award-winning, Hall of Fame inductee, whose Indigenous heritage (Seneca) infuses sensibility and intense passion into the messages he delivers through his masterful musical landscapes. Since winning the Indigenous Music Award for his debut CD Freightrain Live in 2018, Parker and his band Freightrain’s second album Outside Ourselves have been nominated for three categories at the Native American Music Awards (NAMA): New or Debut Artist of the Year, Best Blues Recording and Best Music Video Recording.
In a recent press release, the new album Outside Ourselves is described as a mellow form of classic blues-rock, with smooth and silky tracks, and “plainly the rockin’ sound of Freightrain”.
Best Blues Album of the Year, 2018 Indigenous Music Awards
Parker is an internationally recognized performer−arguably one of the finest bassists in western New York State−who was inducted into the Buffalo, New York, Music Hall of Fame in 2015; he was the first Indigenous inductee since the inception of the hall in 1983. Parker finds himself in good company alongside other inductees, including The Goo Goo Dolls, Three Dog Night, Rick James and many more. Parker’s compelling live performances are legendary across the USA and globally, from Canada, to the Bahamas and throughout Europe. The super-tight Freightrain band consists of Grace Lougen, an accomplished and sought-after guitarist from Kenmore, New York; Damone A-Miracle Jackson, named the best blues drummer at the Buffalo Music Awards in 2013, 2014 and 2015, and one of the few semi-finalists at the 2014 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee; Greg Leech on keyboards–his Jazz and Blues roots have been influencing
his style since the age of four; and rounding out this incredible line-up is Simone Appleby and Leslie Gardner, known as “The Union”. Their signature harmonic sound transcends the listener’s earthbound reality to a heavenly place. Together, these musicians create a signature sound that is captivating and undeniably infectious. As a bass player extraordinaire, Parker is known as one of the best in the business. He is also a soulful lead vocalist and harmony expert who has been hired as a session player throughout his musical career by many accomplished touring acts, which is a testament to his skill, stage presence and personable character traits. A 2019 USA Tour that is being booked will see the band crisscrossing its way across the nation, furthering the growth of its legion of fans. Freightrain will also be performing at select music industry conferences across North America, Asia and the European Union, as well as performing festivals in Canada.
Jan 14 | Chances Jan 28 | Frank Waln Feb 4
| Freightrain
Feb 11 | Electric Religious ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 2018 | 25