Celebrating Indigenous Women

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Hello friend,

Speaking with Jenn Harper of Cheekbone Beauty last week was enlightening. Not only has she built an incredible beauty business (I bought one of her lip kits immediately after our conversation, and it is truly top-notch), but she has also accomplished her primary goal in launching her brand: to change the conversation about Indigenous people in Canada. Through the important, but dark and devastating stories about Canada’s residential school tragedies and missing and murdered Indigenous women, shines colour and brightness in her story of success. A sprinkling of pixie dust to inspire and motivate young Indigenous women to follow their dreams, just as she has — literally.

Tuesday is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. In honour of the Indigenous children who never returned home from residential schools, we are taking Jenn Harper’s lead and sharing with you a few of the colourful, enlightening stories of Indigenous women entrepreneurs, their exceptional products, and their intentional care for the environment. You’ll find the link to my interview with Jenn Harper below, in case you missed it last week.

Thank you to 1440 for sponsoring the newsletter this week. We are grateful for the support. As always, we appreciate your support as well! Reply to this email, respond to our weekly poll, and share your favourite brands. Your recommendations are always the best ones.

Enjoy!

Emma Cabana has three sisters. She got her start making jewellery for them, inspired by the traditions of their Métis heritage. See how she uses beads to weave stories about the land and traditions of her people.

 There are few foods more Canadian than maple syrup. Jolene Johnson has created a modern take on the ancient staple of the Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick. Her barrel-aged maple syrup is exceptional. The recipes she makes with it are off the charts.

Dr Leigh Josephs of the Squamish First Nations in BC started her skincare line to share everything she knows about Indigenous plants and their healing properties. Her remedies are more than skin deep.

Lise and Lara are a mother-daughter team from the Wendat First Nation in Quebec. They paint paddles, a meaningful symbol of their Indigenous heritage. Their modern art is a way to teach people about their ancient culture and traditions.

If you missed last week’s story about Cheekbone Beauty, be sure to read my interview with Founder Jenn Harper. It inspired me; I know it will inspire you. And in case you’re wondering, Cheekbone’s Bestselling Lip Trio is a bestseller for a reason! The colour is perfect; it applies like a dream; it’s literally the lip product I’ve been searching for.

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Watch this space for five quick things to make your life a little richer.

Fall is here and it’s a great time to get out in the garden. Want your perennials to be in peak form next spring? Here are 33 perennials you should cut back now for better blooms next year.

We recently learned about Indigenous influencer Shina Novalinga. She is an Inuit throat singer from Nunuvik, living in Montreal. Follow her on Instagram where she shares her talent, her culture, and her special relationship with her mother. She is a ray of sunshine!

Can we talk about a new way to frame the “anti-aging” messaging we’ve been bombarded with for as long as we can remember? Skin longevity is the new buzzword and we kind of love it.

Daytime sequins? Oh yes, you can! We love how @stylemeyara has pulled together this sophisticated, shimmery look.

Some shows just feel like fall. We found a list of oldies but goodies if you feel like cuddling up on the couch this weekend. One of them has some deep connections to the Toronto area, as one of our favourite influencers, @historyhypegirl, reminded us this week!

The commercialization of Orange Shirt Day is a troubling trend. This story is an important reminder to buy your orange shirt from Indigenous artists like Jennifer Quapnuac May.

One smart young woman at Dalhousie University has invented a tool that fills an important gap for neurosurgeons performing brain surgery. Annika Benson is a PHD student in biomedical engineering. Her invention, “the world’s tiniest ultrasound probe,” won her first prize in a regional pitch competition. Next, she presents her findings on a global stage.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! If you’re a woman who is interested in acquiring an existing business to run as your own, The BDC has just launched a $50 million dollar fund to drive business acquisitions by women entrepreneurs.

When Catherine McKenna was the federal Environment Minister, she faced constant threats and harassment from the public. She’s written a book about the experience. Some say it’s a cautionary tale for women entering politics.

If you haven’t been following the bouncing ball around Jimmy Kimmel’s dismissal and reinstatement on his late-night show, you may not know why he chose Sarah McLachlan as his first musical guest on his return. We have the answer.

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Last week’s issue was all about colour, full of uplifting stories about women entrepreneurs and how colour has influenced their journeys. Get the Colour Me Beautiful Issue here.

Help us shape our content! We’re looking for women- owned brands that took off during covid. If you happen to be a founder of such a brand, reply to this email and tell us your story. If you are a customer of a brand birthed in covid, let us know about it!