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Get to Know: Natalie Spooner

Get to Know: Natalie Spooner

Natalie Spooner knows how to pump herself up. Whether it's telling herself she’s unstoppable or pumping breast milk for her baby in between periods of a professional hockey game, there doesn’t seem to be anything that can slow her down. It’s that kind of energy that makes her such a force on and off the ice and an integral part of helping get the PWHL to where it is now. Let’s get to know her.        Has hockey helped you affirm or realize any aspects of your identity or personality? I started playing hockey at four years old so it's always been a part of my life, and it’s taught me a lot about hard work, perseverance, and dedication. I don't think I would be the person I am without this sport. A lot of my personality has probably come from the energy I get from the teammates I’ve always been surrounded by. The best thing about being on a team is how much fun you have with your teammates. I think that has played a big role in shaping who I am.   I started playing hockey at four years old so it's always been a part of my life, and it’s taught me a lot about hard work, perseverance, and dedication. Why do you think it's important for women and girls to stay in sports? Teamwork, dedication, hard work, and time management—there are so many skills you learn through sports that I think everyone uses in their daily lives. It's so important for girls to have those experiences. For me, sports were always a great release. I’ve always felt free on the ice and just had so much fun playing. There's a lot of stress in the world, so why not go out, play a game, and have a lot of fun? Do you have any advice for young girls that are playing sports?  Believe in yourself. I think that that's the main thing. If I could go back, I would tell my little self to believe in myself and to know that you can achieve your dreams.  The other thing is that sports should be about having fun. I still remind myself every day to go back to thinking like that little girl who had so much fun playing hockey. That's what it's all about. So as long as you love what you're doing and having fun, it doesn’t feel like work. It's just fun. What do you think the development of the PWHL means for young women and hockey in general?  It means a lot. Not only are we able to have a career playing hockey, but all of those little girls who watch us get to have the dream of playing professional women's hockey, just like any little boy would have.  Is there anything that you wish non-athletes realized about professional women's hockey? I wish people knew more about all the amazing ladies that I get to play with and against. Before we had this professional league, there were ladies from all different walks of life: teachers, chiropractors, firefighters, police officers. Some women had full-time jobs and they would come and play hockey at night and be on the road all weekend.  This is the first year we’ve had a professional women's hockey league and we're able to make it into a career and have a salary. A lot of the ladies don't have to have side jobs or other careers now, and I think that’s amazing. It's going to help take women's hockey to the next level because everyone can focus on hockey and not have to worry about where their next paycheck is coming from.   This is the first year we’ve had a professional women's hockey league and we're able to make it into a career and have a salary. What was your involvement in getting the PWHL started? So in 2019, the CWL folded and we decided to come together, all the female hockey players, to create the PWHPA Players Association, and we ended up going on a Dream Gap tour. We played all across North America in all different rinks, and it was a great way to show there was a market for women's hockey.   From there we were lucky enough to get icons like Billie Jean King behind us. She’s one of the main people giving money. I don't think we could have gotten to where we are now without people like Billie Jean, Stan Kasten of the LA Dodgers, and Dana Halford. All of them really believed in the vision and we're just so lucky for their support. What it was like to become a mother as a professional athlete? It takes quite a bit of planning to start a family and then come back to sport. I had to time my pregnancy. So after the 2022 Beijing Olympics, we wanted to start a family, but I had set a goal I wanted to be back playing in the next world championships. Luckily, I got pregnant right away, and it all kind of went smoothly and I was able to achieve that goal. But it also meant that while I was playing hockey, I was still breastfeeding. So you were playing at this high level while you were still breastfeeding? Can you tell us about that? It was definitely a challenge. The time commitment that breastfeeding takes was one of the things that surprised me most about being a mom. I was able to bring him with me to most of the places I went because my mom would come along, too. But being away from him for games and practices, I had to get really good at being able to pump in the locker room or between periods. I had some pretty discrete pumps that I could just slip on in the locker room with the girls. I thought it was super funny when my teammates would look over and I’d be there pumping, and then either sending milk up or putting it in the fridge for after the game. When you're a high-performance athlete, you're trying to power through and so forth. Maintaining your milk and making sure you're drinking enough and eating enough was a struggle. During the world championships, we were in some pretty intense games. So that was hard, but I was able to make it through.    Being away from [my son] for games and practices, I had to get really good at being able to pump in the locker room or between periods. You were back playing hockey four months after you gave birth. What are some of the things that you didn't anticipate would impact your career as a professional athlete? I came back four months postpartum to play my first hockey game in the PWHPA to give myself a chance to get ready for the World Championships, which were around the five-month mark. There were so many unknowns going into pregnancy and training afterwards. I don't think I realized how much my body changed because it happened so slowly.   I came back four months postpartum to play my first hockey game in the PWHPA to give myself a chance to get ready for the World Championships. You kept skating until you were 36 weeks pregnant—what was that like? I just loved getting out on the ice and I think the rink was where I felt the most normal, before and after giving birth. It felt like some type of normalcy to go out there and get back to being with my teammates. Life as a new mom can be quite isolating, so to have my teammates around me again was really freeing and so much fun. It made me feel like myself again. How did you deal with the hunger, exhaustion, and sleep deprivation that pregnancy can cause?  So I found when I was breastfeeding, I was definitely eating way more every time I woke up in the night to feed. I also drank excessive amounts of water. Even when I was pregnant, I was so thirsty. I don't think I've felt that type of thirst before, but I just had to make sure I was eating whenever I was hungry and fueling my body. Is there anything else you want to share about your experience becoming a mom and having a career as a professional athlete? Were there any emotional impacts or unexpected challenges? When I became a mom, I did feel my priorities shift. Before, my whole life was built around hockey. And I would say I was a very selfish person in a sense. I was so committed to my training and that was really all that mattered. And then I had this baby that needed me and that I had to care for. When I would have to go away for games and bring him with me, my mom would come, but I still felt this sense of guilt when I was leaving him to go on the ice. At the same time, I knew this was what I needed.  So there was some learning to do there and some new balances to find between my love for hockey and my love for my baby. My baby takes priority, but I was able to find a pretty good balance between being a mom and coming back to play the sport I love. If you’re having a challenging time or need a confidence boost or something like that, are there any things you say to yourself? I tell myself to be unstoppable, and I just picture myself being so dominant. I literally just tell myself “Be unstoppable.”  We noticed you like to play in your Sparkle Balls™ and other H&B jewelry. Why do you find yourself drawn to it?  I remember when I got my first pair of Sparkle Balls™, I just loved the way I felt in them. It’s the same way now with my pearl Sparkle Balls™—I just feel really good whenever I wear them. They're my go-to's, and I have to wear the biggest ones.   I remember when I got my first pair of Sparkle Balls™️, I just loved the way I felt in them. Do you have any advice for women in general?  My advice for women would be to chase your dreams. No matter what. I can't say it's going to be easy. It's probably going to be difficult and there's going to be lots of twists and turns. But in the end, it's definitely worth it. You'll remember the journey more than the destination.    Chase your dreams. No matter what. By: Carter Selinger

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Get to Know: Natalie Spooner
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Get to Know: Natalie Spooner
Natalie Spooner knows how to pump herself up. Whether it's telling herself she’s unstoppable or pumping breast milk for her baby in between periods of a professional hockey game, there doesn’t seem to be anything that can slow her down. It’s that kind of energy that makes her such a force on and off the ice and an integral part of helping get the PWHL to where it is now. Let’s get to know her.        Has hockey helped you affirm or realize any aspects of your identity or personality? I started playing hockey at four years old so it's always been a part of my life, and it’s taught me a lot about hard work, perseverance, and dedication. I don't think I would be the person I am without this sport. A lot of my personality has probably come from the energy I get from the teammates I’ve always been surrounded by. The best thing about being on a team is how much fun you have with your teammates. I think that has played a big role in shaping who I am.   I started playing hockey at four years old so it's always been a part of my life, and it’s taught me a lot about hard work, perseverance, and dedication. Why do you think it's important for women and girls to stay in sports? Teamwork, dedication, hard work, and time management—there are so many skills you learn through sports that I think everyone uses in their daily lives. It's so important for girls to have those experiences. For me, sports were always a great release. I’ve always felt free on the ice and just had so much fun playing. There's a lot of stress in the world, so why not go out, play a game, and have a lot of fun? Do you have any advice for young girls that are playing sports?  Believe in yourself. I think that that's the main thing. If I could go back, I would tell my little self to believe in myself and to know that you can achieve your dreams.  The other thing is that sports should be about having fun. I still remind myself every day to go back to thinking like that little girl who had so much fun playing hockey. That's what it's all about. So as long as you love what you're doing and having fun, it doesn’t feel like work. It's just fun. What do you think the development of the PWHL means for young women and hockey in general?  It means a lot. Not only are we able to have a career playing hockey, but all of those little girls who watch us get to have the dream of playing professional women's hockey, just like any little boy would have.  Is there anything that you wish non-athletes realized about professional women's hockey? I wish people knew more about all the amazing ladies that I get to play with and against. Before we had this professional league, there were ladies from all different walks of life: teachers, chiropractors, firefighters, police officers. Some women had full-time jobs and they would come and play hockey at night and be on the road all weekend.  This is the first year we’ve had a professional women's hockey league and we're able to make it into a career and have a salary. A lot of the ladies don't have to have side jobs or other careers now, and I think that’s amazing. It's going to help take women's hockey to the next level because everyone can focus on hockey and not have to worry about where their next paycheck is coming from.   This is the first year we’ve had a professional women's hockey league and we're able to make it into a career and have a salary. What was your involvement in getting the PWHL started? So in 2019, the CWL folded and we decided to come together, all the female hockey players, to create the PWHPA Players Association, and we ended up going on a Dream Gap tour. We played all across North America in all different rinks, and it was a great way to show there was a market for women's hockey.   From there we were lucky enough to get icons like Billie Jean King behind us. She’s one of the main people giving money. I don't think we could have gotten to where we are now without people like Billie Jean, Stan Kasten of the LA Dodgers, and Dana Halford. All of them really believed in the vision and we're just so lucky for their support. What it was like to become a mother as a professional athlete? It takes quite a bit of planning to start a family and then come back to sport. I had to time my pregnancy. So after the 2022 Beijing Olympics, we wanted to start a family, but I had set a goal I wanted to be back playing in the next world championships. Luckily, I got pregnant right away, and it all kind of went smoothly and I was able to achieve that goal. But it also meant that while I was playing hockey, I was still breastfeeding. So you were playing at this high level while you were still breastfeeding? Can you tell us about that? It was definitely a challenge. The time commitment that breastfeeding takes was one of the things that surprised me most about being a mom. I was able to bring him with me to most of the places I went because my mom would come along, too. But being away from him for games and practices, I had to get really good at being able to pump in the locker room or between periods. I had some pretty discrete pumps that I could just slip on in the locker room with the girls. I thought it was super funny when my teammates would look over and I’d be there pumping, and then either sending milk up or putting it in the fridge for after the game. When you're a high-performance athlete, you're trying to power through and so forth. Maintaining your milk and making sure you're drinking enough and eating enough was a struggle. During the world championships, we were in some pretty intense games. So that was hard, but I was able to make it through.    Being away from [my son] for games and practices, I had to get really good at being able to pump in the locker room or between periods. You were back playing hockey four months after you gave birth. What are some of the things that you didn't anticipate would impact your career as a professional athlete? I came back four months postpartum to play my first hockey game in the PWHPA to give myself a chance to get ready for the World Championships, which were around the five-month mark. There were so many unknowns going into pregnancy and training afterwards. I don't think I realized how much my body changed because it happened so slowly.   I came back four months postpartum to play my first hockey game in the PWHPA to give myself a chance to get ready for the World Championships. You kept skating until you were 36 weeks pregnant—what was that like? I just loved getting out on the ice and I think the rink was where I felt the most normal, before and after giving birth. It felt like some type of normalcy to go out there and get back to being with my teammates. Life as a new mom can be quite isolating, so to have my teammates around me again was really freeing and so much fun. It made me feel like myself again. How did you deal with the hunger, exhaustion, and sleep deprivation that pregnancy can cause?  So I found when I was breastfeeding, I was definitely eating way more every time I woke up in the night to feed. I also drank excessive amounts of water. Even when I was pregnant, I was so thirsty. I don't think I've felt that type of thirst before, but I just had to make sure I was eating whenever I was hungry and fueling my body. Is there anything else you want to share about your experience becoming a mom and having a career as a professional athlete? Were there any emotional impacts or unexpected challenges? When I became a mom, I did feel my priorities shift. Before, my whole life was built around hockey. And I would say I was a very selfish person in a sense. I was so committed to my training and that was really all that mattered. And then I had this baby that needed me and that I had to care for. When I would have to go away for games and bring him with me, my mom would come, but I still felt this sense of guilt when I was leaving him to go on the ice. At the same time, I knew this was what I needed.  So there was some learning to do there and some new balances to find between my love for hockey and my love for my baby. My baby takes priority, but I was able to find a pretty good balance between being a mom and coming back to play the sport I love. If you’re having a challenging time or need a confidence boost or something like that, are there any things you say to yourself? I tell myself to be unstoppable, and I just picture myself being so dominant. I literally just tell myself “Be unstoppable.”  We noticed you like to play in your Sparkle Balls™ and other H&B jewelry. Why do you find yourself drawn to it?  I remember when I got my first pair of Sparkle Balls™, I just loved the way I felt in them. It’s the same way now with my pearl Sparkle Balls™—I just feel really good whenever I wear them. They're my go-to's, and I have to wear the biggest ones.   I remember when I got my first pair of Sparkle Balls™️, I just loved the way I felt in them. Do you have any advice for women in general?  My advice for women would be to chase your dreams. No matter what. I can't say it's going to be easy. It's probably going to be difficult and there's going to be lots of twists and turns. But in the end, it's definitely worth it. You'll remember the journey more than the destination.    Chase your dreams. No matter what. By: Carter Selinger
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Get to Know: Allie and Sam
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Get to Know: Allie and Sam
Allie and Sam got married in 2019. They live in Nova Scotia with their twin boys, two cats, and three dogs. They also make a pretty incredible parenting team. Allie and Sam were even able to share some of the physical responsibilities of having a baby. Allie carried the twins and Sam was able to breastfeed them. They spoke with us about finding balance in their life, motherhood, and their journey with reciprocal IVF and induced lactation. Their story expands and alters the traditional perceptions and expectations surrounding motherhood, and we’re so excited to share it with you. It’s time you got to know Allie and Sam.  Your story is so unique and special. Allie carried the pregnancy and then Sam breastfed through induced lactation. Could you tell us a little bit about that experience, and what it was like to share these responsibilities that typically fall to one person?When we started our fertility journey, the plan was for Sam's eggs to be used and for Sam to carry our kids. However, after a few losses, we decided Sam's body needed a break and I thought I would try carrying. So, we put in two embryos and were in complete shock when they both stuck! I never wanted to breastfeed, but Sam wanted that experience. So, when she heard about induced lactation, she thought she would give it a shot. It worked out, and she's been breastfeeding our boys since they were born. It’s really nice to be able to share the responsibility because I had a really hard pregnancy and after that I needed to recover and have my body as my own again. Photo Credit: Makenna Reid Has motherhood changed your relationship with each other in any way? With twins it was really challenging to adjust from zero kids to two. It was hard to navigate, but now we’re definitely in a rhythm. We've adapted and now it feels like we have a lot more time to spend with each other! We're still "us" and I'm very glad. You answer a lot of questions from curious people on your social media. Are there questions you love answering? Or ones that you get a bit tired of? Have you received any funny questions or comments?  We do love to answer questions and we do get some repeat ones like, “Are you sisters?” - I don't see it, but we get that a lot. I love answering questions about coming out and the fertility process because I think those are topics that can be hard to talk about. We're really open about sharing our journeys, and I hope that helps others feel less alone.  "We're really open about sharing our journeys, and I hope that helps others feel less alone."  What aspects of parenting do you see each other being good at as your twins get older?Something really unique about becoming parents together is that we actually nannied together. We were au pairs in separate homes, and then au pairs in the same house. So, we've had childcare experience together. We knew each other’s strengths and weaknesses going in. For instance, Sam is eternally patient, which is such an amazing quality. Whereas I think I’m strong at multitasking, which comes in handy for things like cooking and cleaning. Photo Credit: Makenna Reid Was there anyone that you looked to for non-traditional motherhood advice? How did you go about finding information on reciprocal IVF, sperm donation, and induced lactation? We followed a lot of different accounts where people were going through IVF, or reciprocal IVF, and learned a lot that way. But we also did a lot of research and talked to many different fertility clinics. You’re very open and transparent on social media. How do you draw boundaries for what you will and will not share?As much as we share online, there's so much more that we don't share. For example, we don't share our boys’ faces or names anywhere to respect their privacy. We have hard boundaries within our own relationship of what we will not share. We always laugh that people say: “Oh my god she's sharing so much.” But in reality you're probably only seeing like 5% of our lives. There's so much more that goes on behind the scenes, and it's so nice to have some things that are just for us. What excites each of you most about your future as mothers? We're excited for everything—travelling with the boys, watching them become friends with the animals, just doing everyday things, holidays, and just watching them be kids. I really hope they will share my love of music. But mainly, I just can't wait to see who they become. "I just can't wait to see who they become."  In addition to your twin babies, you also have 5 pets. What’s it like being moms to seven little beings all at once? What helps you manage your own, and everyone else’s, needs? It's actually so much fun! We often joke that—since we already had five pets—what’s two more? Obviously, fur babies and human babies are very different, but it's been a pretty seamless transition overall. I definitely often feel like there are not enough hours in the day to attend to everyone, but we always make a point to give all the animals snuggles and get them out for walks. We’re always trying to take the boys out for things, too. We try our best to make sure everybody's needs are met and that we still have time for each other at the end of the day.   Photo Credit: Makenna Reid "We try our best to make sure everybody's needs are met and that we still have time for each other at the end of the day."  It’s rare for two people in a relationship to be able to share some of the physical and biological processes of becoming a mother. How has this experience brought you closer? It's such a unique thing for us to share the load when it comes to pregnancy and feeding our kids. It's been really cool to both feel like we contributed, especially as a same sex couple. Usually, one person in the couple does all the pregnancy-related stuff, so for us, it's cool that we’re both part of the process.
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The Look - Audrey Rivet
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The Look - Audrey Rivet
Audrey Rivet is a Montreal-based influencer who has worked with some of the biggest names in fashion. We spoke with her about astrology, style, stacking, tattoos, and how becoming an influencer empowered Audrey in her life and career.   What’s your Zodiac sign and does it align with your personality? My zodiac sign is Aquarius! We are usually unconventional people, rebels even, comfortable with straying from the norm. Not only are we creative, but we’re also idealistic humanitarians. What role does astrology play in your life? I think it explains a lot of our personality traits and life paths. I, for myself, am the blueprint of Aquarius (Sun in Aquarius and Aquarius rising!) Whenever I’m struggling on a certain aspect, astrology helps me to remember why I am the way that I am and how I can switch my energy to evolve as a person. It’s also a fun way to get to know new people and what to expect from them (always to take with a grain of salt). What is your favourite Zodiac sign and why? I tend to get along with other air signs, like Gemini or Libras! I love to surround myself with other creative, original people! I also love mysterious, mystical people, such as Scorpios. What does ‘believing in your own magic’ mean to you? It means believing in my higher self and trusting the energy I put in the universe. It’s also being proud of my divine femininity and trusting my intuition. What are your tips for styling jewelry? Stacking, stacking, stacking. I love bold, eclectic matches and mixing gold and silver jewelry! I think it’s fun to accessorize with pieces that show your personality. Describe your perfect Fall outfit. Usually go for earth tones and more masculine outfits during Fall! I love layering vests and shirts with oversized blazers and trousers. Add a designer bag and your favourite jewelry and you’re good to go! What is your favourite thing about the Fall season? The coziness of it all! The gloomy weather, hot coffee, long wool coats… The colour of the trees! All my favourite tones. We love your tattoos! Can you tell us more about them and how they add to your personal style? Thank you so much! I think they’re my favourite permanent accessories. Tattoos say a lot about someone’s personality. I love how you decide on a piece of art that you wear for the rest of your life. They’re amazing artistic statements and show a great sense of commitment. I personally love to pick a flash from an artist I love. It’s the best way not to outgrow your tattoos and appreciate the art for the longest time. When they don’t mean anything too specific, they go through time way better. If you were a Sparkle colour, which one would you be and why? Probably a mix of gold and white! As a good indecisive Aquarius, it’s hard to settle for only one, but a mix of both is definitely a match for me! They’re good neutral tones that fit with every outfit. What social causes are you passionate about? I’m a proud feminist. I’ll never stop educating people on how our society forges us as women and how strong we are to thrive through these impossible beauty standards. What makes you feel empowered? To be my own boss and own my business. I want to feel strong, creative and independent. I always aim towards goals that allow me to be fulfilled in these aspects.
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Get to Know: Ashley Callingbull
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Get to Know: Ashley Callingbull
A longtime partner of H&B, Ashley Callingbull joined us to talk about the many exciting things in her life. She just signed a book deal, she’s going to be the first Indigenous woman to model for Sports Illustrated, and she recently collaborated with us on the new Ashley Callingbull Collection. In a very special Know Her, Ashley talks to us about the significance of her Cree and Blackfoot names, and how the experience of growing up in poverty gave her the drive to chase, and accomplish, some of her wildest dreams. You’re going to want to get to know her. What aspects of your identity are you most proud of? Probably my culture all around. There are so many beautiful traditions and beliefs that have shaped me, and there's a lot of strength that comes from my culture. I love the spiritual part of my life and going to sweats and ceremonies, and I love dancing at powwows. I'm really proud of the resiliency that runs through our blood. It gives me strength in every part of my life. "I'm really proud of the resiliency that runs through our blood. It gives me strength in every part of my life.” Have you had any experiences at any of those ceremonies that really stuck out to you? The first time I ever danced at a powwow was really significant to me. I won all my princess titles at my powwow on my reserve. I never knew I would be competing in big international pageants later in life. It's crazy that my pageant career actually started through my culture. "I’m fiercely independent and driven because of the life I had.” I also did an editorial campaign shoot at the same arbor where I started dancing. It was so cool to go back and be little Ashley again—she would have never even dreamed of doing something like that. Growing up in poverty really humbled me. It made me thankful for everything that I have. Coming from a place where you have nothing and no dreams changes you. It makes you want to work harder. I’m fiercely independent and driven because of the life I had. That's so neat how things came full circle with the pageant. I know. And never in a million years would I have thought of doing regular international pageants because pageants on the reserve are so different. You’re showcasing your culture, your language, and your community. But I always wanted the crown! Where do you feel the most like yourself? Honestly, probably on the reserve where I'm from. That's where all my family lives. It's like over 300 acres of land in the middle of nowhere, and that's where I get to see all my favourite Alberta sunsets. It's quiet. I just feel at peace because that's where I grew up. That's where all my memories are. Were there any significant life events that gave you a better grasp of who you are? Definitely. I was invited to speak at Harvard University and that was surreal. They wanted to hear me. After I finished speaking and got the reactions I did, I thought, wow, my voice is really powerful, they want to hear it at an Ivy League school. Now I speak at stadiums of 20,000 people. It’s all just helped me realize how much my voice resonates with people. Who were your role models when you were young? My mom was always my number one role model. My mom and my grandmother raised me to always be proud of who I am. They gave me the love I needed. I also really love and idolize Buffy St. Marie. She's really done it all, and she's still doing it. When I went to compete at my first international pageant, I experienced racism at a whole different level. I don't know what Toronto newspaper it was, but this was back in 2010, and they wrote something really gross about me. They made a joke because I was the only Native woman competing. They wrote, “Oh, what is she going to do for a talent? Chug Lysol or something?” I reached out to Buffy because she was in the public eye. I told her what I was experiencing and that I wanted to sing one of her songs for my talent. I thought, there's just no way she's going to reach back out. But she did. I really needed someone, and she took the time to reach out to me, call me, tell me all these things that I needed to hear. She lit a fire under my ass. It made me want to do what she was doing—chasing big dreams and helping women. If she didn't give me that strength, who knows if I would have pulled through that, right? And still to this day we're in touch. She's more than a role model. She's a friend. You must have a lot of people looking up to you now. What sort of advice would you give to them? I always encourage people to love and live fearlessly, and to always love and appreciate themselves for the way they were created. I want you to love yourself regardless of what you think your flaws are. Those are the things that make you different. And when I say live fearlessly, I mean never live in fear of chasing your biggest or smallest dream. Go big, show the world what you're made of. "I always encourage people to love and live fearlessly, and to always love and appreciate themselves for the way they were created.” What are you excited about lately? So many things. Wow. I'm really excited about the official Ashley Callingbull collection coming out in September. I've been working with Hillberg and Berk since probably 2018, and I get to have my own collection now. It's exciting because I get to share a piece of myself with everyone and also the story behind it. Also I'm going to be the first Indigenous woman to become a Sports Illustrated model, and I just signed my first book deal with Harper Collins. So I have a book coming out in 2024! Did you ever go through any interesting phases as a kid? I was always super nerdy. Everyone knew me as the science fair geek. I was just so proud of what I could figure out and what I could put together on display for everyone, and I loved presenting it. It’s funny because now I present at a lot of shows. I'm currently a CFL host. I guess it was always there, that want to be in front of an audience. Like if I ever found a camera, I would always start recording myself, pretending I was doing on-air shows. Is there anything you do that other people describe as weird that you think is totally normal? 100%. I talk in weird voices all the time, especially to my husband and my dogs. I like making random weird voices. Kids really love that side of me when I work with them because I'm just being myself.   Can you talk about the significance of your Cree name? Yeah, so my Cree name was given to me by an Elder quite a few years ago. They gave me the name Shining Rock because they said everywhere I go, I shine and bring light into people's lives. And then they chose “rock” because that's the purest thing on earth. You just received a Blackfoot name also. Congratulations. Could you talk about that as well? I was named after an Elder who's part of the Horn Society. He’s a pipe carrier and said he wanted me to have a powerful name that was connected to him and carried on a legacy. So Sacred Pipe Woman is the name I was given. It's amazing to be gifted these names. They have such deep stories behind them. "It's amazing to be gifted these names. They have such deep stories behind them.” How did it feel to be given these names? With the first one, Shining Rock, I was surprised, really. I was excited. It had such a beautiful meaning. And with my Blackfoot name, I've been going to Sundance with my husband’s Blackfoot family for the last five years. It's really important for us to be a part of each other's cultures because that's what we want to pass on to the next generation—knowledge of our cultures and languages. When I was given the Blackfoot name recently at Sundance, I had my husband's family and my family standing with me. It was such an emotional moment because after they gave me my name, everyone started celebrating, crying, and smiling. I had all my supporters and I just felt complete. I felt like a piece of me was missing and there it was. Have these names influenced your identity in any way? They make me feel more powerful. More connected to my culture. Being able to say these names—it just creates this really good feeling. A feeling that gives me strength and I just want to pass that strength to everyone. What does it mean to find yourself? There was a point in my life where I felt lost. But I realized that in order to find what I was made of and who I was, I needed to step out of my comfort zone and try new things. Once I did that, I realized that I should never set limits for myself. I learned I was stronger than I thought I was, more independent, and a lot more fierce. I found myself by persevering through hard times and loving myself no matter the outcome. "I realized that in order to find what I was made of and who I was, I needed to step out of my comfort zone and try new things.” What is the significance of the colours you chose for this collection?   I chose these blues and golds because they remind me of the sunsets on the reserve. When I’m there and I go outside, the sky is always this beautiful ombre blue that turns gold. When I see those colours, I think, this is home. Written by Carter Selinger
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Get to Know: Shannon Christensen
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Get to Know: Shannon Christensen
Shannon Christensen is the founder of Mamas for Mamas—a non-profit based out of Kelowna, BC that has grown across Canada. We spoke with Shannon about how she started this organization, the vital work Mamas for Mamas does, and how her experiences as a young mother inspired her to alter the course of her life to help mothers facing poverty. You’re going to want to get to know her. What services do you provide at Mamas for Mamas? Mamas for Mamas is an online community and a sharing economy. When moms can't meet each other’s needs peer to peer, we provide internal poverty relief resources through our social work team. We help moms with whatever they need: rent, groceries, dental care, mental health care, clothes, even gym memberships. There are a lot of people who fall outside of the poverty relief cutoff. So our programs are specifically designed to identify families who would fall through the cracks. We’re creating this real sharing economy among mothers and caregivers, which is what it used to be like hundreds of years ago. “Mama” can mean mom, dad, caregiver, uncle, and foster parent. Basically, if you're raising a child and you don't have what you need, come to Mamas. It’s just called Mamas for Mamas because it started with me, my garage, my babies, and a bunch of other moms. Can you talk a little bit about your motivation for starting this organization? When I had my first baby, I had just lost my dad. It was a really lonely time. I was 22 and my dad died the day after I got married. I had this epic perspective shift. I realized I wanted children. I was going to wait to have babies until I finished my doctorate—I had all these goals—but I realized nothing mattered without connection. And so my husband and I had a baby who was seven weeks early. That was an incredibly lonely and scary time. I had postpartum depression. I was doing my master's in forensic psychology at the time, and I was feeling really shameful that I was experiencing these depressive moments. I had all the things: I had the house, the safety, the kind, respectful husband, the food on the table, everything. But I didn't have a connection with other mothers, and I was devastated for a long time. I found the community around motherhood to be more cutthroat than trying to get into your master's program. When my second baby was born, I realized this lack of community wasn't going to get any better unless I did something about it myself. I desperately needed a place where people would be kind so I started a Facebook group in 2014, and I decided I was going to give away every single thing I owned that other moms might be able to use. Were there any important moments that made you feel like you were on the right track in those early days? I saw a really horrific post blow up on an online shop and swap page. This young mom, who was like 19, was asking for food and the people on this page absolutely destroyed her. There were like 300 comments, and they were all like “If you can't provide for your children, you shouldn't have them.” So I messaged her and said, “Hey, take that post down. I'll bring you groceries. What do you need?” And she said, “Honestly, I just want spaghetti.” I’ll always remember that because my favorite meal is spaghetti. So I went and bought her a bunch of groceries and brought them to her house and my son was in the wagon, my other son was strapped to my chest, and she opened the door and the look on her face is something I’ll never forget. She truly didn't think I was going to show up. Well, then she started to cry, and then my baby started to cry, and then my toddler started to cry, and then I started to cry. She hugged me while my baby was still in between us. I’ll never forget that. I don't think she realized that I needed that expression of kindness in that moment as much as she did. I thought, “Oh, my God, I think I found it. I think I found a way to unbreak my heart from my dad dying.” I started to feel joy again, and I thought “If this works for me, maybe this will work for other moms.” What do mothers facing poverty need most? Mothers who are experiencing poverty need somebody to listen to them, and to help them navigate the support that’s available out there. They need a caseworker that will help them identify their needs, and the highest need is housing. It’s $2600 a month to rent a 2 bedroom in Kelowna. It's impossible to live here if you aren't wealthy. But at the same time, people live here because their families are here and their connections are here. They can't just leave. Beyond that, I'd say day-to-day material items fill such a massive gap. And food of course. We realized 90% of families are eating out of cans when they're going to government assistance programs. So we decided to build a farm. We got the land donated, we got the irrigation donated, we got the seedlings donated from West Coast Seeds, we pay the lease on our farmland by selling half the eggs our chickens produce, and then we got every single elementary school in town to plant and grow seedlings so they can understand where their food is coming from. We produce 80,000 pounds of fresh organic food every year for families in need. And, because of amazing volunteers like these kids and Penny, who runs the farm, it costs next to nothing. Have your experiences running this nonprofit shifted your outlook on motherhood in any way? Definitely. Through Mamas for Mamas, I think we’ve started to shift mothers away from competition and towards kindness. We like to say, “kindness is our currency.” It's just about working hard and only worrying about who gets the help instead of who gets the credit. I built Mamas for Mamas because I didn't feel like I had a sense of belonging; I figured there might be 10 or 15 other moms out there who felt this way. It turns out, every single mom feels like she doesn’t belong in one way or another. What is something about motherhood that continues to surprise you? The strength of mothers. The strongest people I’ve ever met in life are mothers. You see that strength in the way they show up for each other, and show up for their kids in times of great hardship. There's an iron will inside of each mother. Sometimes you just need to be reminded it’s there. Why do you believe partnerships between nonprofits and brands like H&B are important? The sharing economy we engage in with moms on Facebook groups, or other social media platforms, isn’t that different from the sharing economy we engage in with our business partners in the community. We have the ability to improve and increase the quality of life for moms that are struggling financially by working with these organizations and companies that have the financial ability to give back in some way. Their reason for wanting to give back is intricately tied to our reasons for starting Mamas for Mamas. When a company decides to make a tangible difference, we get to be the conduit for their energy, kindness, and compassion. Can you talk about the evolution of your personal style as you became a mom? It's hilarious because there was none. I always joke that my style is whatever's clean. I've got two little boys, 8 and 11. Style has only recently become something I put time and energy into. I wore the same pair of earrings for, like, 15 years. I'm actually wearing them right now because I just took off my Sparkle Balls™ last night. These are my wedding earrings that I got five years ago. I just like to express my personality with my style. I'm a sassy girl, you know, I'm a little bit fiery, and a bit bold, I want my style to represent and reflect that. I just got a beautiful necklace with my name on it from H&B, and I love that because people are always checking it out and reading it. I'm all about customizing. You have to customize every case that comes in for every mama. You need to customize every grant proposal. So customizing my style, my jewelry, and my hair, it just makes sense. Are there any pieces of jewelry that help you feel empowered and ready to tackle everything your busy work and home life might present? Yes. Well, I love bangles. Like I'm a big bangle girl; I do a lot of public speaking and, if I'm nervous, I like that I can jingle them a bit. I also really like a nice long necklace. I've got one that says Mama and I wear that whenever I’m really tapping into my mama vibes. If I'm nervous about something I put on my power stuff like my diamond earrings. They’re a classic. Is there a woman in your life who inspired you to dedicate yourself to this advocacy work?My Nana was the most special person. She passed away in January of 2020, but she's still very present in my life. I had a long struggle with depression as a teenager. She's the reason that I am who I am today. She's the reason that I'm still alive. It’s powerful to know that one person can make that kind of a difference in your life. My Nana was instrumental in building the Motherless Babies Home in Lagos, Nigeria, and I grew up always wanting to be like her. I just kept thinking to myself, if I could be half of Nana, I'll be a full me. And she always told me, “Don't cut yourself down like that. You're everything you need to be.” This woman was incredibly resilient. She grew up in a residential school, and had to run away from it. My goal in the next five years is to launch a second stage homelessness support program, and it's going to be called Nana's House because that's where you go when you can't go home. Jewelry seems like an endless source of fascination for kids. They’re often grabbing at earrings or necklaces. Do you have an early jewelry memory from when you were a kid? My Nana had this cross necklace that she wore every day of her life. I remember playing with the cross at a very early age, almost unconsciously, it was like sucking my thumb, but playing with the cross. One time she lost it and ripped up the entire house looking for it. It ended up being in the lint trap of the dryer. After that, she never took it off again until she gave it to me on my wedding day. Years later, my babies played with it just like I played with it. Writing: Carter Selinger
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Get to Know: Megan Nespliak
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Get to Know: Megan Nespliak
Megan Nespliak is brimming with positivity and bold, colourful style. Her daily mantras, looks, and outlooks on life make her a constant inspiration to her many followers and fans. We spoke with Megan about style, social causes, and the power of positivity. She also gave some great advice for handling unthinkable adversity. You’re going to want to get to know her.What inspired you to become a content creator? I have always wanted to be famous from a very young age. But I discovered my love of content creation when I started my online clothing business Day In Night Out. Instead of hiring models, I decided it would be easier to just model the clothes myself. So I purchased a tripod, practiced a lot, and started posting as an influencer in February of 2021. Since then, I have had the chance to work with brands I’ve supported my entire life. To say this is my dream job is an understatement. We love that you have a mantra you post on social media everyday, tell us about your mantra and how you created it. My mantra is actually partially someone else’s. Gabi Daiagi, another much more popular influencer, says: “You are beautiful, you are kind, and you are the only one of you on the entire planet and if that’s not the coolest thing you’ve ever heard, I don’t know what is.” I added “I hope you do something today that makes you and someone you love smile” because I think that is just such a great reminder. I often wake up already in a bad mood, or overthinking, so having positive affirmations to start the day has really changed my outlook on life. It’s now routine for me to say the mantra to myself before I get out of bed. "Having positive affirmations to start out your day really has changed my outlook on life.” Why is it so important for you to radiate positivity on your page?Positivity is something I have very recently become acquainted with. When I was diagnosed with cancer in March of this year my whole world was flipped upside down. Instead of taking my terminal diagnosis and feeling bad for myself, I decided I wanted to make the biggest possible impact on the world before I go. I want to make other people smile because it brings me joy, I want to advocate for those who may not have a voice, and I want to enjoy whatever time I have left living my life to the fullest. Positivity is a choice we can make everyday. "Positivity is a choice we can make everyday.” What advice would you give someone who is overcoming adversity?Control what you can control. Stressing about things out of your control will only make the situation seem worse than it is. When I’m faced with any kind of adversity, I like to make lists of things I can do that will make me feel accomplished. Where do you find inspiration for fashion?I look to some of my favourite creators for fashion inspiration but I also feel like I found my own fashion sense quite naturally. I love to experiment, to be colourful, and be comfortable! My favourite creators are @emmaleger @sophiesuchan @mjhedderman and @gabidaiagi Why is colour so important to your aesthetic? Colour just makes me so happy. I think that the way you dress is just another way to express yourself. I am very extroverted, happy, positive, and outgoing so a lot of colour in my wardrobe makes sense. But don’t get me wrong, I love a classic black and white moment but I will always find a way to make it funky fresh. What tips do you have for styling jewelry?I think jewelry is a very overlooked accessory. A pair of earrings, a few bracelets, and a necklace can take an outfit from basic to chic very quickly. I would say that my go-to styling tip is to play around with layering necklaces. Also, you can never go wrong with a statement earring. "I would say that my go-to styling tip is play around with layering necklaces and you can never go wrong with a statement earring." If you were a Sparkle colour, what colour would you be?I mean rainbow would probably be an acceptable answer. But my favourite colours right now are pink, purple and green so probably a Sparkle Ball™ with all of those colours to match my Instagram feed aesthetic! What social causes are you passionate about, and why?Well there is no shortage of social causes to support at the moment with the way the world is. I am obviously a huge advocate for young adults with cancer, but I am also a sexual assault survivor so supporting women in that community is very important to me. What is happening in America right now is a very difficult and touchy subject, but I strongly believe that every person should have the right to choose. Having the platform that I have, I want to use my voice to speak about current events and issues that not only affect me, but my entire gender. Everyone has the power to make a difference so I just want to do my part. "Having the platform that I have, I want to use my voice to speak about current events and issues that not only affect me, but my entire gender. Everyone has the power to make a difference so I just want to do my part." What makes you feel empowered?I feel empowered when I am around my friends, when I am posing for the camera, and when I am wearing a funky fresh outfit. My friends are supportive, kind and caring, and I learn from them everyday. We empower each other to chase our dreams no matter how crazy they may seem. When I am working and taking pictures for brands I feel empowered because this is my dream job and what I hope to be doing for the rest of my life. And of course, a funky fresh outfit is not only going to look great, but it will give you the confidence to feel great too.
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Get to Know: Indi City
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Get to Know: Indi City
Angel and Alex are the co-founders of Indi City. Together they design and create fashion accessories and curate a 100% Indigenous-made brand through visual marketing and storytelling. We spoke with Angel and Alex about how they got started making jewelry together, their inspirations, influences, ambitions, and what they’re most excited about in the future. It’s time you got to know them. Tell me about yourselves and what Indi City is all about?Alex- my name is Alex Manitopyes, I am a two-spirit non binary person that was born and raised in Calgary (Mohkinstsis). My paternal and maternal lineage is from Muskowekwan First Nation and Kawacatoose First Nation in Qu’Appelle Valley, Saskatchewan. I am Cree (Nehiyaw) and Objibway (Anishnawbek).Angel- I’m a Nehiyaw/Metis mother and maker with maternal connection to Waterhen River, and paternal lineage from the Peepeepkisis Cree Nation, both in Saskatchewan. Mohkinstsis is home and has been for my adult life. Indi City is an Indigenous brand dedicated to authentic representation. We work to inspire and uplift future generations by channelling the wisdom and artistry of the ancestors. Right now we make earrings, but that’s just the start. Why did you want to start a jewelry brand?Angel- Adornment is sacred. Beadwork has connected me to my Grandmothers. Earrings draw attention to the face, and people will look you in the eyes and start a conversation, and conversations around culture and connection are so important for daily life. We’d like to make designs that go from head to toe, but we’re still here making earrings for the time being.Pow Wow culture is a huge representation of all the beauty that our culture encompasses. The designs, the colour and the life and love weaved into the regalia inspired me and connected me to my roots. I’m not a dancer but it’s kind of a “ life is a pow wow, so make a grand entry” sort of expression. The jewelry and beadwork is like DNA bringing us closer to the ones before us who fought so hard to exist. Our ancestors are the reason we’re here to share Indigenous fashion and collaborate with incredible companies such as H&B. "The jewelry and beadwork is like DNA bringing us closer to the ones before us who fought so hard to exist. Our ancestors are the reason we’re here to share Indigenous fashion and collaborate with incredible companies such as H&B.“ Angel- Growing up as a native girl on the reserve I didn’t see our culture being represented in a positive light anywhere. The stereotypes and stigma surrounding our people were steeped in the trauma caused by colonization. Our people stood for much more than what recent history has dictated. The beauty and power of Indigeneity is strong. We existed on this land before Canada was even a thought. Our people were abundant, and shared a sacred balance with the Earth and everything that encompassed the natural world. Indi City is a reclamation, a statement and a love song to our Ancestors. We work for the Grandmothers and we work to storytell through visual adornment, which is an important aspect of Indigenous culture. Our blood memory is couture, and we live this as daily life. We want to take up space and create positive representation so that Indigenous youth know they belong anywhere their dreams lead them. What does it mean to create Indigenous fashion and jewelry for Indigenous and non-Indigenous folx to wear?  We wanted to make sure that we could share appropriate aspects of Indigeneity with the global market. Indi City stands as a respectful nod to our ancestors, and we present our work in a way that allows a greater audience to appreciate Indigenous culture without worrying about appropriation. Our jewelry is meant to start important conversations and bring truth to the beauty and power of our culture. Why was it important to make sure your jewelry could be worn by anyone? How did this influence your collaboration with Hillberg & Berk? Humanity is about connection, and adornment is something we all have in common. Jewelry is a symbol of connection and can be passed down as heirlooms. We work to curate pieces that may carry these stories from the past and present forward into the future. Hillberg & Berk resonates with our brand for many reasons; we find resonance in the giving back, and the seeking to move forward in reciprocity. It’s neat that the founders of both companies share “home” being the Treaty 4 territory of Saskatchewan. We thought this was a great and synergistic opportunity to stand together as female entrepreneurs.  Each of your pieces tell such a story. What are your sources of inspiration for designing jewelry? What inspires the designs and colours of your pieces? Indi City belongs to our Grandmothers, whose beadwork inspires our designs. We’re here as a channel to curate this divine feminine energy into contemporary design and share it in greater quantities. Our choices for design and colour are based on what sort of power and medicine is needed to support the Indigenous rising. Traditionally we upheld and respected the Matriarchy for the intuitive power it held. "Indi City belongs to our Grandmothers, whose beadwork inspires our designs. We’re here as a channel to curate this divine feminine energy into contemporary design and share it in greater quantities.” What's your biggest, boldest ambition for the future? We’d like to see Indi City grow as a brand and move towards creating head-to-toe looks that can be taken to the global market. We’d also like to burst through and open doors for other Indigenous entrepreneurs to create a future of Indigenous economic sovereignty, authentic representation and sustainability across Turtle Island. What’s your favourite thing about your career? We love our supporters, and we love that they feel powerful in Indi City. The feedback we most often hear is how the earrings start important conversations. This is the backbone of our purpose because it means people are taking a moment to connect in an uplifting way. What advice do you have for entrepreneurs starting out? Traditionally our people were mentored by elders and community right from childhood. They would observe the children playing and take notice of their innate talents and gifts. The children were then paired with the right people and taught everything they needed to know. I’d encourage entrepreneurs to always trust their intuition when it comes to business, and to seek mentors in a variety of vocations and aspects of life, not just business. "I’d encourage entrepreneurs to always trust their intuition when it comes to business, and to seek mentors in a variety of vocations and aspects of life, not just business.” Why did you want to collaborate with H&B? Describe the process of bringing two aesthetic styles together into one? What has this experience been like? H&B is a staple of Canadian fashion. I am certain that most fashionistas have at least one pair of Sparkle Balls™. We admire and adore all women in business, and seek to uphold the Matriarchy in any way we can. Indi City is all about bringing divine feminine energy together any way we can. Finding a way to add the signature Sparkle Ball™ to an Indi City design was an amazing journey. Bringing Sky and Water together through the creative collaboration was so exciting.  What is the design inspiration behind the Nîpîy earring? What does Nîpîy mean? Why was it important to you to name this product in Cree language?  Nîpîy means water in Nēhiyawēwin. Language reclamation and protecting the earth and water go hand in hand. They’re essential aspects of Indigeneity. Water is life, we are water and water is us. Please make sure to thank the water and let it know you love it. Speak into it everyday when you shower, brush your teeth, and fill your water bottle. This cycle of reciprocity and love will only bring about goodness.  June is National Indigenous History Month. What do you want to share with our community about the importance of acknowledging and celebrating Indigenous cultural history, Indigenous voices and creators like yourselves? This land that we all live on has been under the loving care of Indigenous Peoples’ since time immemorial. Our blood memory connects us to songs and spirits that exist here. Indigenous History Month is a renewing of the moon cycle that comes 13 times a year. It’s a time to build relationships, to celebrate and acknowledge the Indigenous voices and creators who are vital to a healthy community. Innate wisdom and knowledge can be transferred so that we all have a beat on what sort of future we want to build together. "This land that we all live on has been under the loving care of Indigenous Peoples’ since time immemorial. Our blood memory connects us to songs and spirits that exist here. Indigenous History Month is a renewing of the moon cycle that comes 13 times a year. It’s a time to build relationships, to celebrate and acknowledge the Indigenous voices and creators who are vital to a healthy community. ” Writing: Carter Selinger
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Get to Know: Lynne Groulx
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Get to Know: Lynne Groulx
Lynne Groulx is a Métis woman from the Treaty Three historic Metis community of Rainy River/Lake of the Woods, who grew up in Cochrane, Ontario. She has spent most of her adult life living and working on unceded Algonquin territory. She spent 15 years in the private sector before obtaining a civil law degree. As a lawyer, she became a senior advisor for the Canadian Human Rights Commission with a focus on systemic human rights issues. She now works for the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) as the Chief Executive Officer where, among many other things, she’s helped develop two Resiliency Lodges—Elder-led holistic healing centers for Indigenous women. You’ll want to get to know her. H&B: Tell us about yourself and your role at the NWAC. I joined the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) as the Chief Executive Officer in 2016. My primary function is as the chief administrator and spokesperson/advocate for the organization, as well as advising the Board of Directors. Since joining NWAC, my proudest accomplishments have been the development of two Resiliency Lodges, which are holistic healing lodges for Indigenous women in both Quebec and New Brunswick; the purchase and renovations of the Social, Cultural and Economic Innovation Centre, which is our new headquarters; the growth in the types of programming we offer, including most recently a national apprenticeship program; the Accord we signed with the Government of Canada; and the 65-point action plan we developed on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (“Our Actions, Our Plan”). How did you get involved with NWAC? I always knew I wanted to work for my community. When the opportunity arose in late 2016 for the Executive Director position at NWAC, I decided to apply. I was ready to take on that role for a national not-for-profit organization. I wanted to work for the NWAC to help advance the rights of Indigenous women and gender diverse voices. "I wanted to work for the NWAC to help advance the rights of Indigenous women and gender diverse voices.” What is the biggest challenge that NWAC faces today? It was no shock to us when the National Inquiry for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls concluded with the finding of genocide. The violence, racism and discrimination of Indigenous women, girls and gender diverse peoples is not an isolated incident, and proves the ongoing legacy of colonization. Indigenous communities need healing services and healing centres across the country. Almost every community is experiencing some kind of trauma—direct, indirect and intergenerational. We work relentlessly to identify funding and programming to help the families and survivors heal from intergenerational trauma. The instability in funding from the federal government has been challenging, as we want to implement our programs and services in every province and territory. We need ongoing and stable support to ensure we can deliver these much-needed services to our communities. “The violence, racism and discrimination of Indigenous women, girls and gender diverse peoples is not an isolated incident, and proves the ongoing legacy of colonization.” What is something that excites you about the work of the NWAC? The most exciting thing about the work at NWAC is the diversity of our work, which ranges from policy to economic development to service delivery to international work. Through our work, we are seeing concrete changes and improvements. Then, there is the development of our lodges and being able to provide the service of healing to grassroots women. We are working with Elders in developing the model of the Resiliency Lodges, which are the first of their kind in Canada; and also seeing the positive impact of NWAC’s Virtual and in-person programs and services, such as our cultural and artisanal workshops. The organization has gone from running six-month programs with about $400,000 in core funding to multi-year programming up to 10 years. Incorporating fundraising, and seeing an increase in donations from wonderful supporters and allies, has led to close to two million dollars in much-needed additional revenue in order for us to continue to deliver our programs and services. What advice would you give your younger self today? Before she passed away, my grandmother gave me this piece of advice: “Remember, nobody is better than you.” I’d repeat those words to my younger self. I’ve learned that nobody is better than me, because nobody has had my unique experiences. Those words are a reminder that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to, but it took a long time to get to this place. We’re all humans and we all have limitations and strengths, but this makes us who we are, and no one can take that away from you. “I’ve learned that nobody is better than me, because nobody has had my unique experiences.” You are quite active on Twitter. How can social media be a platform for truth and change? Twitter is one of the strongest social media tools that we have in our advocacy work. People are using Twitter; they’re reading it and retweeting it, and subsequently learning from it. We can get our message out; we can influence people and have them understand who we are, what happened to us, what needs to happen to redress the harms and how they can collaborate and become allies. What does empowerment mean to you? I believe a lot in self-empowerment. It needs to come from the inside, rather than from the outside. In order to empower ourselves, we have to work on ourselves. It’s a journey. And by empowering ourselves, we empower our family, we empower our community, and we empower our country. “And by empowering ourselves, we empower our family, we empower our community, and we empower our country.” Why do you believe organizations like the NWAC and brands like Hillberg & Berk should collaborate on inclusion, representation, and impacting social good? We both want to make a difference with our stakeholders and in our communities. We all have a role to play in counteracting violence against women and advancing reconciliation. We all have to work together to find ways to make our communities better. If we want to see a better place, a better country, we need to collaborate.   “We all have to work together to find ways to make our communities better. If we want to see a better place, a better country, we need to collaborate.” This June is National Indigenous History Month. What is something you’d like our H&B community to know about the importance of acknowledging and celebrating Indigenous cultural history and amplifying Indigenous voices in Canada? We envision our future with full rights that are honoured and respected. Indigenous women and girls have faced multiple, intersecting forms of violence and discrimination from which we are actively empowering ourselves and our communities to overcome. We’d like to share with your H&B community the importance of collaboration and allyship with Indigenous communities across Canada. To understand Indigenous women and their struggles, the first step is to sit with us and get to know us, our hardships, our successes, our culture, our history and where we need to go from there. The H&B community can do some self-learning by exploring the National Inquiry report and other reports on NWAC’s website at www.nwac.ca. There are many ways to help amplify NWAC’s voice. Staff can follow us on Twitter and retweet our messages. They could consider booking a cultural training experience with us at our National Office or Resiliency Lodge. It’s about finding those occasions or ways to amplify our voice. We would appreciate H&B’s support in amplifying NWAC’s voice and that of Indigenous women, girls, and gender-diverse people. “To understand Indigenous women and their struggles, the first step is to sit with us and get to know us, our hardships, our successes, our culture, our history and where we need to go from there.” Can you tell us about a woman who has inspired you? Alma Brooks inspires me. She’s a 79 strong Wolastoq woman and she’s actively working in her community every day and continues to mentor and support individuals and projects across Turtle Island. She recently sent me a photo of her sitting on a tractor at the farm in New Brunswick, which is located on the property of our second Resiliency Lodge. She’s spearheading and leading the healing movement in our lodges. This is a really huge initiative and it’s Alma’s mission and vision. I so admire Alma. She is a selfless and driven woman and a dear friend of mine. She continues to share her wisdom and knowledge to help her community. Writing: Carter Selinger 
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Get to Know: Jamie Pandit
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Get to Know: Jamie Pandit
Jamie Pandit (she/her) is a digital creator, fashion expert, and influencer based out of Toronto. Her story of “living in stealth” for 16 years before publicly coming out as a transgender woman in 2020 touched the hearts of many. We chatted with Jamie about her story, her style, Pride, and what it means to be a good ally. You’re going to want to get to know her. What inspired you to become a digital creator and share your story? I’ve been creating on social media for years, at first hiding my transgender identity. It was never just about the outfit; it was about sharing my thoughts and perspectives and connecting with others. But from hiding my identity and seeing misrepresentation and lack of representation of transgender people, I internalized that transphobia. I wasn’t proud of who I was because I didn’t see people like me online. After coming out through a Youtube video, I realized there were so many others like me who didn’t feel seen or heard. There’s so much hate put on trans people for just existing. I saw that negative energy and decided it was important for me to not only exist but prove that transgender people can thrive and lead lives full of success and happiness. I also wanted to prove we deserve to exist in all spaces, including in this “influencer” world, where we haven’t always been included. By sharing my story I’m hoping to normalize our identities, livelihoods, and unique experiences. "By sharing my story I’m hoping to normalize our identities, livelihoods, and unique experiences.“ Are there any aspects of the LGBTQ2S+ community that you wish were more common knowledge? Or things about Pride that you wish more people knew about? It takes time to for people to understand the difference between gender identity and sexual identity. Being transgender has to do with one’s gender identity not matching the sex assigned at birth. It’s also important to understand that the LGBTQ2S+ community is not a monolith. We have shared and individual experiences despite all belonging to the “queer” community. Pride isn’t for a day or a month. It’s more than the rainbows, parades, fun parties, and drag shows. As LGBTQ2S+ people, we have to consciously choose our happiness and take pride in who we are even when the world tells us to dim our light. Pride month can look different for every person. For some, Pride is a time to get together with kin—and other LGBTQ2S+ community members—to celebrate boldly and proudly. For others, it’s a time to really focus on advocacy work and to call for the action needed to inspire necessary change. Pride can also encourage people to reflect on how they can be better allies and support the community. For LGBTQ2S+ members who have not come out to themselves or others, Pride can be a time to step out of their comfort zone and into a space where they can start to be who they really are. "Pride isn’t for a day or a month. It’s more than the rainbows, parades, fun parties, and drag shows. As LGBTQ2S+ people, we have to consciously choose our happiness and take pride in who we are even when the world tells us to dim our light." What is the biggest or most common misconception about trans people? It would have to be that transgender people have a “mental illness,” or that they are confused and don’t know who they are. We do know who we are but are often afraid to explore and be ourselves because of the policing, marginalization, and oppression of trans people. A trans person knows who they are better than any stranger ever can. Cisgender and transgender people may have different experiences but trans people’s experiences are still valid and legitimate. One doesn’t have to take away from the other. Why did it feel right for you to be a part of this specific campaign? It’s an honour to be part of this campaign because, after coming out in 2020 and not being able to celebrate Pride during the pandemic, it feels special to be seen and celebrated. As I get older, I’ve started appreciating jewelry for how it reminds me of special moments in time. I’ll remember celebrating this year’s Pride through this campaign. Although Pride month is important to celebrate, this Prism Sparkle collection will be available year-round with proceeds donated to the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD). I love that you can share the magic of Pride with anybody throughout the year and keep donations going to a good cause. What can we do as allies to show support to the trans community? Society, medical knowledge, and science are evolving—we need to evolve as well. There are so many harmful myths that contribute to transphobia and continue to put the lives of trans people at risk. An important part of allyship is critically thinking about what you hear and read, and how you address your own biases. With the existence of harmful anti-trans bills and policies, we need the support of allies more than ever. You can use your voice to dispel harmful misconceptions and call out transphobic comments and behavior when you witness it.   "An important part of allyship is critically thinking about what you hear and read, and how you address your own biases.“ What builds or represents community for you? Community to me is based on respect, kindness, love, and shared attributes. The community that I have built online through my platform is based on connection. I typically connect with people through their authenticity and vulnerability. How would you describe your personal style? My style is always evolving depending on how I feel. I draw from different experiences, what’s happening in my life, and of course trends! At its core, I’d say my personal style is bold, bohemian and ethereal glam goddess. How does adding jewelry to an outfit, or fashion in general, make you feel like you're embracing your brightest, boldest self and standing in your power? I’ve always loved bright colours, but in the last year my outfits have been even more vibrant and bold. I’ve been especially drawn to rainbow and the shades of pink, white, and blue that represent the trans flag. I lived in stealth for over half my life and now I just want to celebrate with colour and sparkle. In the last few years, I’d gotten used to wearing simpler jewelry but felt like something was missing from my outfits. Now I’m adding and layering jewelry and it’s really elevated my style and made me feel more put together. This collection specifically shows off my Pride and gives me that feel-good energy to step into my day. What life (or fashion!) advice would you give your younger self and why? I would’ve told my younger self that I was proud of her for doing what felt right in the moment and staying authentic. All through my life I tried to fit in so I wouldn’t stand out, but my style was always bold. My energy radiated. I’m glad I never changed that about myself because I was born to sparkle. "All through my life I tried to fit in so I wouldn’t stand out, but my style was always bold. My energy radiated. I’m glad I never changed that about myself because I was born to sparkle.” If we asked your loved ones what makes you Sparkle, what would they tell us? I asked my husband this question and he said, “your big heart.” Writing: Carter Selinger
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Know Them: The Faces of Prism
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Know Them: The Faces of Prism
In support of Pride, we created Prism Sparkle. Proceeds will be donated to the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity.  We also chatted with members of the LGBTQ2S+ community about their lives, the history and evolution of Pride, and what they love about their community. The particularities of these individual’s lives defy the stereotypes and expectations our world places on them. Some are in heterosexual relationships, some are technically proficient on 11 instruments, and some are really into outlaw country music. As Julie Gobeil puts it, “All kinds of queer people exist.” You should get to know them.  Alexis Fellner “Pride is a celebration but I think it’s still a protest. It’s a bit of both, and I think it should be.” Are there any aspects of the LGBTQ2S+ community that you wish were more common knowledge? Are there any things about Pride that you wish more people knew about?  Part of the spectrum I wish people knew a little bit more about is asexuality. I’m bisexual but I’m also demisexual, which is a part of the ace (asexuality) spectrum. Some people don’t feel a sexual drive or a sexual desire, but they feel much more connected to the romantic side of things. There’s a big difference between romantic attraction and sexual attraction for a lot of people and I feel this gets glazed over sometimes. Demisexual means I don’t feel a sexual desire for somebody until I have an emotional connection. I need to feel like they’re a person.  There’s a lot of confusion and questions about Pride like “Why do we need Pride? Why aren’t straight people included?” I think a lot of people misunderstand the purpose. The reason you wouldn’t need a straight Pride is because the pride is already there, and widely accepted, so there’s no need to protest or fight for it.  What do you love most about your community? The amount of empathy that exists in the LGBTQ community. We’re all so willing to explore ourselves and each other and let people find out who they are for themselves. There’s a lot of empathy for people who are still finding out where they fit (whether that’s in the community or not) and that amount of empathy is hard to find in the world right now. The openness and empathy in the community is not only welcoming, it’s refreshing.  What are you most passionate about in your life right now?  Mental and physical health both on their own and how they affect each other. I’m white and cis and straight passing, but I’m part of a marginalized community and I have a chronic illness. There’s a lot of sides to every person that really affect their mental health and wellbeing. And mental health can affect your physical health and vice versa. Lately it’s been about learning about self-advocacy in mental and physical health. There’s a lot of advocacy you have to do for yourself in the medical community with doctors not quite understanding certain conditions enough to be able to treat you, or having to explain to them that you know your body, and you know what you’re feeling.  People often talk about anger as a negative emotion, yet Pride started with a riot in 1969. The Stonewall riots were an example of how justified anger can create a powerful motivational force for social change. Is it fair to say that, since then, Pride has become more of a celebration? What emotions do you associate with the origins, history, and evolution of Pride?  There are a lot of “negative” emotions that are really important. Fear is important for survival and I think anger is important sometimes in order to be heard. The Black Lives Matter movement is a really great example of a community getting fed up because they just haven’t been treated fairly, and haven’t been heard. So they needed to get loud because the passion that comes with anger is really powerful, and I think it helps others see the importance of what they’re fighting for.  It’s fair to say that Pride is a celebration but I think it’s still a protest. It’s a bit of both, and I think it should be. Especially because it has been going on for over 50 years now and we’re still fighting for certain issues within the LGBTQ community. There will always be points that need to be debated, or argued, or fought for.  Why did it feel right for you to be a part of this campaign?  I was really flattered when asked to be a part of this because I usually fly under the radar as an LGBTQ person because I’m straight passing. I’m bi and I’ve been out for six or seven years now, but I’ve often been in long term relationships with men. My current partner and I have been together for almost five years. I think that the bisexual community gets different representation sometimes. When a few of my coworkers found out (I was going to be in this campaign) they said, “You’re going to be a great representation of us.” Meaning the rest of us who are also straight passing or also bi and not out. I think I bring a different image of bisexuality than what people might imagine. I’m quite feminine a lot of the time and I have a boyfriend. And I think it’s really important to have that representation. Someone might not fit the stereotype, but that doesn’t mean they don’t get to use that label. I also think it’s really important that I’m a part of the H&B family. I’ve worked at H&B for over 2 years now and I have noticed how much this business really does value our community and values me as a person. They’re very supportive. Do you have any book or movie recommendations? I’m not a big reader and I don’t see as many movies as I want to. But the first thing that came to mind was a video game called Gone Home. It’s considered a walking simulator. It's not an action game. There’s no combat. Essentially, you’re walking around a house and picking up clues. It’s very situational and it’s a little bit spooky. The reason I bring it up is because they go through a really beautiful young love story of the sister falling in love with her girlfriend. I played it very shortly before—and then again after—I came out. It’s a very heartwarming, down-to-earth coming-of-age story. And it was really refreshing to interact with a story of a teenage girl figuring out who she is and how her family is going to feel about it. It shows those types of things—like your first love—in a very different light. I thought it was a good representation and it still sits with me today as one of my favourite games even though it’s nothing special. It’s just a really beautiful story.  What’s your secret skill?  I’m really good at faux calligraphy. Real calligraphy is not my thing, but I like brush lettering and I get to use it a lot when I write our donation cards at H&B. So that’s really fun for me. But another skill I have that’s a little more abstract is what I like to call “tetrissing.” I’m really good at packing. Packing a suitcase, or packing the car to go camping. And it’s kind of become my job now. I have to try and make room for everything. So, yeah, spatial awareness or “tetrissing” is something I’m good at that people are often surprised by.  You mentioned one of your favourite hobbies is drawing cartoons. What inspired you to want to be a cartoonist, and what aspects of that genre of art do you find most appealing?  It kind of fell into my lap. I’ve been an artistic person since I was old enough to hold a pencil. As a toddler, I was already drawing people with faces and arms and hands and making little situations out of it. I don’t consider myself a super funny person so I wouldn’t say I draw comic strips, or funny situations, but I like to tell stories with cartoons. For most of my life drawing has helped me make connections and tell some stories. But the thing that keeps me at it nowadays is just the feel of it. I really like to create and look at things in a different way. I’m really into bold lines and bright colours and sharp contrast. So that’s why I call it cartoony. I can do realism and abstract work, but what I really want to do is make my friends into cute little cartoon people.  Korinne Konnor  “I want to be proof that trans people can find themselves.”  Are there any aspects of the LGBTQ2S+ community that you wish were more common knowledge? Are there any things about Pride you wish more people knew about? Our history in general. There’s not much taught about queer history in schools or anywhere really. As a queer person I had to learn all that information myself and teach other people around me how to be with someone who is trans and how to talk properly. I came out 15 years ago and it was a very different world then. I think education is so important.  With the LGBTQ community, a lot of the movement has happened through moments of tragedy that have brought our community together and helped us push forward. You can see this throughout history with the Stonewall riots and the AIDS epidemic. There are also famous hate crimes like the Matthew Shepard murder. Our response to things like this has moved our rights so far forward.    What do you love most about your community? I love the tenacity of the community. If you look back at our history, queer people and trans people have existed for thousands of years and we’ve always had to overcome so much. Transexual* surgery started in the 1920s, which is, like, crazy. We’ve had surgeries available for almost a hundred years and only now is it starting to become a conversation. Obviously 1969 and Stonewall was a pivotal moment in history, but we’ve been around forever. People have always been fighting and standing up for themselves throughout history and that makes such a big difference for people like me who came out 15 years ago. I just hope that I’ve helped make things easier for the next person who needs to come out.  *Korinne is using the original name for the surgery in the 1920’s What are you most passionate about in your life right now? Ever since I transitioned I’ve been really passionate about fashion. I like how you can always reinvent yourself and recreate yourself. I like to be an exaggeration of femininity. I draw inspiration from beautiful women but also drag queens. I went to a lot of drag shows when I first came out and so I like to be soft like a woman but really bold like a drag queen at the same time.    People often talk about anger as a negative emotion, yet Pride started with a riot in 1969. The Stonewall riots were an example of how justified anger can generate a powerful motivational force for social change. Is it fair to say that, since then, Pride has become more of a celebration? What emotions do you associate with the origin, history, and evolution of Pride since Stonewall?  Pride has definitely become more commercialized and definitely more of a celebration, but I think there are still parts of it that are a reminder to us and to the world that there is still so much change that needs to happen. Pride is a very special time in my life because I came out as trans going into grade 12. I was going to a catholic school at the time, so when it came to grad pictures they wanted me to wear a bow tie like all the other boys, and I was like, “Absolutely not.” I had to fight the school board and I went all the way to the superintendent to get proper representation, but now my yearbook says Korinne. It has my name as is, and I got to have flowers in my photo, and got to wear a dress to grad. Graduation is right around the same time as Pride and it’s always a reminder for me to stand up for who you are, what you believe in, and to march to the beat of your own drum no matter what anyone else says. I think it’s important to be loud and proud.  Was Pride part of your inspiration to make sure your gender was properly recognized?  I’m just really stubborn. The beginning of it started in like January so it didn’t have anything to do with Pride at the beginning but graduation was right around Pride. Originally, I was just shocked that someone said no to me, but I’m glad it all worked out because it shows, for our community, that when someone tells you no, or someone doesn’t believe in you, you need to stand up for yourself, make your voice heard, and stand up for what you know is right. I’m just really glad it all worked out.            Why did it feel right for you to be a part of this campaign? I think it’s important for me because one of the biggest moments in my life was meeting and seeing a trans person for the first time. Prior to transitioning, I was very androgynous. I wore women’s clothes. I didn’t really understand myself. I just thought I was a gay kid, but that moment (of meeting a trans person) gave me such clarity and I finally understood. So I think it’s important to make myself visible so hopefully—if someone else is confused—they can see there are people just like them, and that it’s ok to be whoever they are, and it’s ok to be confused. I want to be proof that trans people can find themselves.  Can you talk a little bit more about meeting a trans person for the first time and what that was like? Who were they? What were they like? How did that whole experience make you feel?  When I was in grade 11 my friend and I came across a queer youth group called Generation Queer or GenQ, so we started to attend. At the time they identified as lesbian and I identified as gay. After being in this group for a couple weeks I found out that one of the facilitators, Zak, was a trans man. I went home and immediately started looking up everything about being trans; everything I had been feeling for so long started to make sense. I was already wearing makeup, wearing women's clothes, shaving my body hair, and a friend of mine was already referring to me in female pronouns. By the next weekly meeting I had already picked my name, knew my transition goals, and officially came out as trans.  Being in GenQ, being around other LGBTQ+ kids was already significant but to have a trans facilitator / mentor was life changing. Zak really took me under his wing to guide and support me. He was my biggest cheerleader and we immediately became like family. I can't imagine beginning and going through this process without GenQ and especially without Zak to help me that year. It was a place for all of us kids to feel safe, supported, and understood.  Do you have any book or movie recommendations? Disclosure by Laverne Cox is a great documentary about trans representation in the media. There’s another really good documentary called Killing Patient Zero on HBO that really changes the story about the first person with AIDS. He obviously wasn’t the first person with AIDS, but he was the first person to work with doctors to help identify what this illness was and help them connect how it was spreading. He potentially could have saved millions of lives. He was a hero.  What's your secret skill? I think my skill is perseverance. All my life nobody has ever been able to tell me what to do. I stand up for myself when I need to. I think especially in this community it’s important for you to stand up for yourself and make yourself loud and proud and to refuse to take no for an answer when it comes to your rights.  You mentioned you’re always looking for fashion that helps you be “almost an exaggeration of femininity.” Could you elaborate on what you mean by exaggerating femininity? What aspects of fashion help you achieve this? I love a tall heel, bold colours, crazy silhouettes, great shaping outfits. I like really big, bold, beautiful, and glamorous looks. Almost on the verge of drag queen, but not quite.   Julie Gobeil  “All kinds of queer people exist. We’re your family and friends and coworkers and we look all different ways.”   Are there any aspects of the LGBTQ2S+ community that you wish were more common knowledge? Is there anything about Pride that you wish more people knew about?  Yeah, I think the main thing I wish more people realized is that all kinds of queer people exist. It’s not just white, thin, cis men. We’re your family and friends and coworkers and we look all different ways. Also, I wish people understood that you can label yourself however feels best for you, and nobody really needs to be policing that. Like if a non-binary person identifies as a lesbian, that’s fine.  I think you addressed this in a different question, but I think it’s important to remember the roots of it. It did start as a riot with Stonewall. I also think people should be wary of businesses that slap a rainbow on something and call themselves inclusive when maybe the rest of the time they aren’t actively working with queer people, or hiring queer people.  What made you want to be a part of this specific campaign? Well, like I said, I can be wary of capitalism in general (laughs). When I was first asked I really didn’t think I was going to do it, and I wrote a long email that included all my questions and concerns. I was really impressed by how H&B addressed all my concerns. They set up a meeting with me and talked about every question and concern I had. They also went the extra mile on a couple suggestions I had made. For example, I was saying that it’s really important to have queer folks working behind the scenes. I gave them some ideas for makeup artists, and they ended up hiring one of the queer make up artists I suggested. So I came in pretty skeptical and I ended up feeling really good about doing it because of how willingly they communicated with me and took what I said to heart. I know in other years H&B has done a rainbow Sparkle Ball™ but never explicitly for Pride, or for LGBTQ folks. So that was really important to me too. I was assured that the messaging was about Pride and the proceeds were going to queer organizations. What do you love most about your community?  With my community of queer friends, I really like how politically active they are. I guess outsiders would call us social justice warriors, which I’m fine with to be honest. I’m constantly impressed with the insights and activism my friends are developing and taking part in. It just makes me want to be better and more educated about various issues. I learn a lot from them.  What forms of activism do you and your friends get involved in?  Well right now in Regina we’re talking about supporting a conversion therapy ban, and it’s gone to discussion at city hall meetings with many—I would say bigots—voicing their opposition to the ban. I have some friends who have spoken at city hall so eloquently and made such great, evidence-based points. I have another friend who has started a grassroots movement to support this conversion ban. I’m also on the board for UR Pride—a local organization that has a lot of programs and services for queer people, and that’s really important to me because they’re doing a lot of great work to make things safer and more inclusive for queer (and LGBTQ+) people here in Regina.  What are you most passionate about in your life right now?  I would say Regina-specific queer issues are really important to me. Obviously, the conversion ban. Also, a couple years ago there was a public school board vote to make Pride celebrations mandatory in public elementary schools and I was part of that motion. It feels more doable for me to focus on Regina and to make Regina safer and more inclusive for queer people versus trying to attack the whole world and system. I’m just really passionate about local activism.  People often talk about anger as a negative emotion, but Pride started as a riot in 1969. The Stonewall riots were an example of how justified anger can be a motivational force for social change. Is it fair to say that, since then, Pride has become more of a celebration? What emotions do you associate with the origin, history, and evolution of Pride since Stonewall?  I definitely believe that anger can be a forward-moving emotion. Sometimes that’s the only way to get things noticed, or to get things moving forward in terms of equality issues. As I said earlier, I do think it’s unfortunate how people can quickly forget the roots of it, and then it just seems like a fun rainbow party. Some of the most staunch, politically progressive people I know don’t participate in Pride, and I think it is capitalism—the businesses jumping on board—that really grinds their gears. As a queer person, who identifies as a progressive, it’s nice to march in the streets with a bunch of people who are happy for you. I’ve marched with my mom and brother and it just feels amazing. So I’m not totally cynical about Pride. My mom came one year and we met up at Pride and she had a big sign that said: “I love my gay daughter.” That was pretty great.   Do you have any movie or book recommendations?  Yeah I’ve read a few books recently where the author is queer or the main character is queer or both. The one I read most recently is called The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta. It’s a young adult novel that’s super good. Milk Fed by Melissa Broder is great. I’d recommend a biography called On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous By Ocean Vuong. One that’s good for Queer history is Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg. That’s just a really amazing book about being a butch lesbian in the 70s in America.  I also have a couple of TV recommendations. The new season of Shrill is really good. The main character’s best friend is in a relationship with a non-binary person which is pretty cool. The show The Bold Type is so good. I don’t know anyone else that watches it, but in my opinion it’s super inclusive and there is lots of queer representation, and then I May Destroy You is obviously epic.  What’s your secret skill?  The only thing I could think of is that I have really nice penmanship. Aesthetics are kind of important to me in all aspects of life, but yeah I have very nice writing and I’m really picky about my pens and it’s a whole ritual for me. I was writing down my answers to these questions because I don’t always get a lot of opportunities to hand write.  What interests you most about the world of fashion?  I’m really into red carpet fashion. I like to post photos and recaps of red carpets as they’re happening on my Instagram. I also add witty captions and judgments of the outfits people wear to events like the Oscars, Grammys, or especially the Met Gala. That’s just something I love. I follow a lot of high fashion designers on Instagram too and it’s always so cool to see someone wear a look that you remember seeing on the runway.  Echo Roberts  “The LGBT community remains resilient and able to fight back for our rights and the rights of future generations. I feel that same resilience within the Indigenous and two-spirit communities.” Are there any aspects of the LGBTQ2S+ community that you wish were more common knowledge? Are there any aspects of Pride you wish more people knew about?  Definitely supporting trans people. There are so many hateful discriminations against the trans community and laws that are being passed in other countries that are taking away their rights; that’s something that is so important to talk about. We need to help that cause right now.  What’s a good way to make your voice heard?  I think social media is a good way. You can help create or share videos and bring as much awareness as you can to these things online with your posts. People spend a lot of time there these days. It’s a good way to get your message out there.  What do you love most about your community? I love that no matter how many generations of discrimination we go through—like hate, violence, and misunderstanding—the LGBTQ community remains resilient and able to fight back for our rights and the rights of future generations. And I feel that same resilience within the Indigenous community and two-spirit community.  What are you most passionate about in your life right now? Definitely my photography. It’s one of my biggest passions. It’s really hard for me to put what I’m thinking or feeling into words because I’m not very writing or tech-savvy, but I like how I’m able to take a photograph and show my creative self through that photograph.  Are there any photographers that you’ve drawn inspiration from?  Yeah there are a couple in Saskatoon. Tenille K. Campbell (@sweetmoonphoto) is a great Indigenous photographer in the Saskatoon area. What are some consistent themes throughout your photography?  Definitely couples. Just being able to capture their love, their lifestyle, and how they interact with each other to show how they are instead of having them pose. I like trying to capture their unique love story through the ways they interact with each other.  People often talk about anger as a negative emotion, but Pride started as a riot in 1969. The Stonewall riots were an example of how justified anger can be a motivational force for social change. Is it fair to say that, since then, Pride has become more of a celebration? What emotions do you associate with the origin, history, and evolution of Pride since Stonewall? I think a lot of people look at Pride as an excuse to party and have fun, but it started out as a riot because of how LGBTQ people were being treated and even now there’s so much injustice for the LGBTQ community in North America and other countries. Pride was started by a Black trans woman rioting against police violence and I feel like that doesn’t get talked about enough. To this day Black trans women are often the targets of violence. There’s a mixture of feelings—and I know it’s hard to talk about these things—but Pride isn’t just about celebrating. It’s also about remembering that history and the struggles and sacrifices that give us Pride today. That’s why Pride is so important right now.  Emotionally, I love that Pride is there. It feels really good that, as a group of people, we’re able to celebrate ourselves and have it well known. At the same time, it’s frustrating because you read all these comments online that are like, “Why do people need Pride?” And there’s so much violence against the LGBTQ community and it’s happening everyday. That’s why we have Pride, and that’s why it’s so important to keep talking about it.  Why did it feel right for you to be a part of this specific campaign?  I like to be an advocate for the LGBTQ community as well as the two-spirit community. As an Indigenous person, I’m really happy that H&B gave me this opportunity to use my voice to give back to the LGBTQ community. I chose to wear orange for this campaign because my father was a Residential School Survivor.  I also saw that H&B has had Indigenous models before so that made me feel like I could trust them. I know that H&B had a rainbow Sparkle Ball™ before, but this is the first time they’re doing it for Pride, which is really cool.  Do you have any book, movie, or TV recommendations?  Disclosure on Netflix. It’s about how Transgender people have been represented in a really mean, negative way in the media and how it has led to the current widespread backlash towards trans rights. Indian Horse is also really good. It follows a kid who was taken from his home and brought to a residential school. It’s a really powerful movie. I think everyone should watch it, especially in North America.  What’s your secret skill?  I can come up with really creative solutions when I’m put on the spot. That’s like the only thing I could really come up with for this question (laughs). I think I’m a pretty creative person naturally. There’s a saying, “A Native is never stuck” (laughs). I say that a lot. If something ever breaks at home I’m always able to fix it really quick. I’ll figure it out. I think if I was stuck somewhere on an island I’d probably survive.  Has your relationship with your Indigenous heritage evolved or changed since you began identifying as two-spirit?  So I never really began identifying as two-spirit because it’s been a part of my Indigenous heritage my whole life. As I got older, and understood more, I identified more loudly and proudly. It’s important to me to keep that history alive that Indigenous people lost because Indigenous people were always accepting of the gay community. Gay people were always highly respected because you were able to love both female and male. And spiritually you were considered both female and male.  I think Indigenous acceptance of the gay community was lost because of colonization. Colonizers tried to force Indigenous people to lose their traditional beliefs. And sometimes Indigenous people today don’t agree with gay people and that’s sad to see because it was something that was highly respected and important traditionally. It was normal, and that doesn’t really happen with a lot of cultures. That’s why it’s important to me. Even though history has changed, it’s nice to know back then I would have been accepted for who I was.   You mentioned that you’re very passionate about sharing your culture’s teachings. What is a piece of cultural wisdom that helps you when you encounter some of the pitfalls of our current world?  My mother was one of my biggest teachers when she was here. She was passionate about how I was raised and made sure I had that connection with my Indigenous culture and roots. Respecting is a huge thing with the Indigenous community. There’s an importance placed on respecting spirituality, all of life, and nature. Nature is especially important to respect right now because we’re living in a world with climate change and it’s really scary.  How do you think we can bring these Indigenous cultural teachings more to the forefront in a world that seems to flounder in our support for things like the environment? Bring awareness to Aboriginal people. Indigenous peoples' voices are always silenced. For example, during the (Red Dress Day) for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Instagram removed everyone’s posts, and that’s a perfect example of how Indigenous people, even today, are being silenced. That’s something that I’ve always lived with, but knowing about it helps you keep fighting. It makes you push back ten times harder. We’re trying to let people know that’s why we need to do these things like block pipeline construction and protect the planet as much as possible. That’s what Indigenous people are trying to do and that’s what we’ve always been trying to do.  Ciel Butler  “There is a lot of stigma around what it means to be non-binary in society right now. I’m very thankful to be here today because I can represent just one faction of what it means to be non-binary.” Are there any aspects of the LGBTQ2S+ community that you wish were more common knowledge? And are there any things about Pride you wish more people knew about?  Through the internet age, there’s a kind of common perception that most members of the LGBTQ community are in their late teens, or early twenties and they’re all social activists. And I think more people need to understand that there are people in this community of all ages. There are people—from children to the elderly—who are living their best lives as members of the queer community. I do find that it is the activists that get the spotlight because they’re always around, which is amazing as they are a crucial part of our community and its advocacy. I just hope that people realize that they’re not all that exists out there.  What do you love about your community? Definitely the people. I know that’s kind of a broad answer. I didn’t enter the local LGBTQ+ community until about two years ago—cause that’s when I first came out—and I was astonished at the difference of people I could relate to once I entered this community. Before, I had all these friends but I never really felt like I belonged anywhere, and then once I found all these queer people I was like “Ah, there’s more out there like me. I’ve got a community of people who are supporting me who will be by my side. That was really neat.”  What are you most passionate about in your life right now?  It’s a little hard to be passionate about things with this current climate that we’re in. But despite all the circumstances, I have managed to become very passionate about songwriting during the pandemic, and I’ve been doing a lot of that. I’ve even released an album kind of unofficially. It’s very amateur, but that’s been my biggest passion. Drag has also been a passion that I’ve been trying to keep up with during the pandemic by practicing my makeup skills and performance and all that.  Have you been doing drag shows over Zoom?  There’s been a number of Zoom shows in the past year and a bit. I’ve personally been getting a little bit tired of the Zoom shows because they don’t give me the same sense of fulfillment that the in-person shows do, but we take what we can get.  I’m curious about that though because in the drag shows that I’ve been to, the audience has been such a huge part of it. It’s almost like performance art in a lot of ways.  Absolutely it is.  So I was curious as to how that would translate over Zoom.  Yeah so with the Zoom performances, you have the host and then they set up a pre-recorded performance that you’ve submitted, and then there’s a chat box for any audience that’s watching cause we usually do it over Twitch. The people in the chat will be hyping us up over the Twitch stream and they’ll be like “Yaaaas! Go go go!” And that’s always exciting, but there are always less people in the audience than there would be for a normal show. So that’s one disappointing factor, but it’s still something.  People often talk about anger as a negative emotion, but Pride started as a riot in 1969. The Stonewall riots were an example of how justified anger can be a motivational force for social change. Is it fair to say that, since then, Pride has become more of a celebration? What emotions do you associate with the origin, history, and evolution of Pride since Stonewall?  Yeah, so I think it would be fair to say that, since Stonewall, Pride has become more of a celebration. I would discourage people from saying that it has become only a celebration though because—despite how far we’ve come in our society in accepting and giving rights to LGBTQ people—in North America there is still discrimination against LGBTQ+ members. For example, bathroom laws and restrictive sports rules prevent trans people from having the same rights as everyone else. There are still issues for everyone in this community in terms of being accepted by society as a whole. I do think that it has become more of a celebration, but that doesn’t mean that the protests should stop or are going to stop any time in the future. I think they’re pivotal to getting more awareness of who we are and bringing more awareness to our rights and lives.  I think we’re very privileged to live in Canada where we have a lot of rights, but there are still 71 countries where being LGBTQ+ is illegal and there are 12 countries where it’s punishable by death. So I feel like through our development and our rising to celebration, we’re also representing the people in the world who don’t have those rights yet. So we need to keep fighting for them.  Why did it feel right for you to be a part of this specific campaign?  I feel like I was a pretty good fit for a campaign because as a trans masculine non-binary person, there is a lot of stigma around what it means to be non-binary in society right now. There’s a lot of people in our society who don’t understand it. They lump the idea of being non-binary into one single category of person despite non-binary being an umbrella term and there being many identities that exist within it. I’m very thankful to be here today because I can represent just one faction of what it means to be non-binary. Maybe that can help people broaden their horizons and realize that “Oh, there’s more than one type of person than what I thought could fit here.”  Do you have any book, movie, or tv recommendations?  Yeah I do. I recently read a book called I Wish You All the Best by Mason Deaver. It’s about a kid who comes out as non-binary and their parents are completely unaccepting. The book follows this kid’s experience of going through life and trying to find a community that accepts them. It was phenomenal for the way it described the struggles that somebody coming to terms with being non-binary would go through. I’ve never read a book that I was able to relate to in that way before. The other recommendation I have is the TV show on Netflix called Sex Education. It has the most sexually diverse cast that I’ve ever seen on television and they go in-depth talking about different sexualities and different gender identities as though they were completely normal and part of the growing up process. Not as something that’s to be tokenized, and I really appreciated that from the show.  You mentioned you’re passionate about music. What instruments do you play?  I did my degree on the trumpet. I also play classical guitar. In school we learn to be proficient on every band instrument that exists. So that was really fun.  What’s your secret skill?  I’m technically certified proficient on 11 different instruments.  Ok, you have to name them for me.  Trumpet, classical guitar, ukulele, clarinet, flute, oboe, saxophone, trombone, tuba, french horn, oh and drums! Maybe we can just time travel a little bit and talk about pre pandemic times, back when you were performing, what do you like most about performing and what’s your favourite reaction to get out of an audience?  My favourite thing about performing is the audience to be honest, which is why performing online isn’t doing it for me lately. It’s the hype that you feel when you first get onstage and you hear everyone excitedly buzzing for what you’re about to do, and the second you begin everyone is screaming and everyone’s excited, and it just fills you with adrenaline to the point that you’re just having so much fun.  In terms of the reactions I like to get, I feel like it’s always based on the number you’re doing. If I’m putting on a comedy number, I really want people to laugh cause if they don’t I’m gonna be awkward. I’ll be like “Sorry, I tried my best.” And if I’m doing a number where I’m just looking super fierce and fabulous, I just want people to be like, “You look amazing, oh my god.” That’s all I want and then I’ll live my best life on stage. Before the pandemic I was a lot more focussed on my drag performances and every time I had a show coming up that’s all I could think about. I would do my other activities but always be thinking about costumes, numbers, all that stuff.  Ryley Koma  There’s something amazing about groups of human beings who are just like, “I like you. We got you.” What do you do for work?  I’m A floral designer at Wascana Flower Shop. I’ve been part of that team for over 12 years. It’s good. It’s hectic. Everyone thinks, “Oh, a flower shop, that’s fun and relaxing.” It is a high paced environment that’s constantly evolving and changing every day, which is why I’m passionate about it.  What are you most passionate about in your life right now?  My work. I love what I do. My work is one of the biggest priorities in my life right now. I’m in an industry that nobody is in to get rich. We’re in it because we love it. I’m lucky enough to build relationships with families because you do the major life events like grads, bereavements, and weddings. It’s nice to build relationships with people who respect what you do, and what I do is emotion-based. It’s the biggest love of my life. I’ve worked with the same group of people for 12 plus years. We often joke that we spend more time together than the girls spend with their husbands or any of us spend with any of our friends. But we get to do what we love and we get to do it with the people that we love everyday. That’s probably the biggest gift that I could ever receive in my life. Are there any aspects of the LGBTQ2S+ community that you wish were more common knowledge, and are there any aspects of Pride you wish more people knew about?  I think, because of its portrayal in the media, people often look at Pride as a big party. And, being a gay man, this is going to sound bad, but I’ve never been one to make it a priority to be present at a parade. I do feel that it plays into stereotypes. Often the only things that are shown through Pride parades are the flamboyant parties instead of the commitment to change. Celebrate yourself however you want, but what gets lost in my opinion is the core of what the march is for. Being recognized as equals is a basic human right. If Pride were subdued a little more you’d see a lot of everyday people walking who just want equality. These people are teachers, doctors, lawyers, cashiers at the grocery store, your kids, and more. People always say, “Why don’t we have a straight day parade?” Well thank god you don’t have to. Thank god you don’t have to have a march and fight to have your rights recognized.   What are some of the things you love most about your community and the everyday people within it that you mentioned earlier?  We’re the same as everyone else and that’s all we’re asking to be seen as. Coming from a really small town, my understanding of being gay was not positive. It wasn’t something that wasn’t spoken about in the community, or at school, or with friends. Anything that was said (about being gay) was always negative. It was a term to beat somebody down. When I moved to Vancouver at 18, I had this big epiphany when I was on the bus heading downtown to school. It was literally the moment I knew. I was by Burrard street and I saw two very well-dressed men outside of a building and they kissed, and nobody even noticed. That’s when I realized, “This is completely ok.” One guy went into a building, the other guy rode off on his bike and from that moment forward I realized “This is good. This is fine.” Since being accepted into the community, I’ve realized there’s a lot of people who come from backgrounds like me—who weren’t educated about being gay, who weren’t raised in communities or times when it was visible or mainstream. The gay community really just opens it’s arms to people from every walk of life. They back each other. They support each other. They can be complete bitches and cliquey (laughs) but so can I, and at the end of the day there’s a place to go and there’s people like you. There’s something amazing about groups of human beings who are just like, “I like you. We got you. We’re family.”  People often talk about anger as a negative emotion, yet Pride started with a riot in 1969. The Stonewall riots were an example of how justified anger can generate a powerful motivational force— I don’t like violence and I never have. Stonewall wasn’t good for showing us as a community and it wasn’t good for showing the rest of society. Stonewall was a difficult scenario. It happened in the midst of the civil rights movement, the counterculture of the 60s movements, and the anti-vietnam war movements. People were saying they’d had enough. To be gay was still illegal then. The events of that night (and many others) originated from raids, violent attacks and arrests, and inhumane conduct towards gay individuals.  The New York city police commissioners finally publicly apologized in 2019 for the NYPD officers’ actions in these riots. I think in 1999 Stonewall was put on the national registrar and recognized as a historical place. It was a movement. That’s why it always bothers me when we talk about that night as the beginning of Pride when in fact the first Pride Parade was one year after the riots, to continue the fight for equality in a peaceful accepting movement.  When it comes to anger and Pride...that’s just a loaded question. It’s difficult to go back to a point that you didn’t live through that’s prior to the AIDS outbreak and the blame that came with that.. I remember when I came out, my Mom said, “It doesn’t matter how forward thinking this world gets. There will always be people who want to hurt you. And more people who want to see you fail than want to see you succeed. And no mother wants to see her child hurt, and I will love you and support you no matter what.” For some reason there are always these people with anger towards others that they don’t understand. Those people shouldn’t have a voice or opinion in saying, “You can’t be with somebody, or you can’t love somebody. You can’t have children. You can’t. You can’t.” But you can? In what world was it ever ok to think that you’re better than others? At the end of the day we’re all human beings. But through it all—the anger and aggression—it did create change.  Why did it feel right for you to be a part of this campaign?  I’ve shopped in a lot of places where I’ve been told “This is for women.” I’ve always worn H&B and loved it, and I love what Rachel and the whole company stands for. When I was asked to be a part of this I was like, “Holy, this is really, really cool.” This campaign is Canadian-based, it’s Saskatchewan-based, and to know how many people there are who pour their heart and soul into this stuff, and to know that the proceeds are going to charities for the LGBTQ+ community—it’s kind of a once-in-a-lifetime thing to be asked to be a part of it. It makes you look at yourself and think “Maybe I’m not as bad as I think I am in my own head sometimes.” To be part of something with a group of people that’s going to help a lot of others in the LGBTQ+ community—it’s amazing. It’s kind of a blessing.  Do you have any book, TV, or movie recommendations?  I’m old school so one of my favourite books of all time is Perfume by Patrick Süskind. I’ve read it like a million times. It’s kind of dark, kind of twisted, but it’s really descriptive and pretty amazing. Salman Rushdie’s Satanic Verses is another book I really enjoy. Stand By Me: The Forgotten History of Gay Liberation by Jim Downs is one of my favourites. My sister got it for me from a human rights museum in the states. It’s written by a pretty significant historian and it covers gay and lesbian life in the 1970s. He digs into the history of the various groups, and the substantial movements in gay history in the 70s that really haven’t been made public or talked about much. So that’s another favourite.  What would be on your Pride playlist? I don’t have a Pride playlist. Never have. Never will. I just love having music as a playlist to my life. I’m born and raised on a ranch. I’m as backwoods as they come. I love music though. People that know me well joke and say I’m an old man. I love Country and I love old Country. I like my Loretta Lynn and my Johnny Cash. Then I’ll switch over to Fleetwood Mac, Bob Dylan and so much more. Music lives with you. That’s why I love Country music. A lot of people would call my music depressing. I call it relaxing. At the end of the day I’m kind of a hopeless romantic and I like a good love song.  Do you have a favourite love song off the top of your head?  A newish one would be Slowdance in a Parking lot by Jordan Davis or Dance with me by Johnny Reid. Meet in the Middle by Diamond Rio. You can’t go wrong with Dolly Parton. Same with Willie Nelson. The storytelling in older Country is the thing. It has actual substance. I also love classical music too. Chopin Nocturne number 9 is one of my all times. I’m super old school. The other day I accidentally called Billie Eilish Billie Irish at work. That’s about where I’m at with modern music.  Writing: Carter Selinger MUA: Alex Paul Artistry
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