This National Indigenous Peoples Day, meet and support Indigenous makers

Updated: Mon. Jun. 19/23

Posted: Mon. Jun. 19/23

June is recognized as National Indigenous History Month, and June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day on the land many Indigenous people know as Turtle Island. To commemorate this month and this day, we at ZenSeekers wanted to provide some direct connections to Indigenous change makers we’ve had the chance to feature across our Seekers Media network.

Join us on a virtual journey, east to west from Alberta to the BC coast, as we feature some of the makers we've met in our travels.

Our invite to you: get out and meet them in the real world, this season, to gain Indigenous perspective and further a fresh-eyed view of the world around you.

Meet Indigenous makers, experiences

Those who follow our other magazine @FestivalSeekers would have had a front row seat to this past March through the #NEAB Online Festival.

Say hello to just a few of these makers:

WATCH: Kookum Clara's Custom Creeations LIVE on Facebook

WATCH: KT Creeations LIVE on Facebook

To learn where you can experience and connect to more of the Indigenous culture in northeast Alberta, check out our story on the #NEAB Online Festival here.

Hideaway Adventures

Go say “tansi” to founder John Ritchie who offers traditional Metis experiences in this skookum North East Alberta destination right outside of Lac La Biche.

We profiled his operation here in this ZenSeekers story.

Ash O’Neal – of Ash Fire Wear

Ash is a Ktunaxa Nation maker who was part of FestivalSeekers #buybasin Online Festival in 2021. You will find this KORE maker profiled in this coverage showcasing her alongside other Ktunaxa Nation changemakers.

You ever had a bannock-based burger before?

Meet Shane with Bannockslap Burgers, as featured in this latest #exploreVernon feature inviting you to the syilx Nation for a culinary treat you won’t soon forget!

Photo: Niall Pinder

Shane Miller, of BannockSlap Burgers, whipping up his signature burgers.

Squamish and Lil'wat Artisans

Say hello to Pilasi Kingfisher’s work and click into a new hat or handcrafted earnings. Here is a picture of her grandmother carrying on ancient traditions while weaving up a traditional basket.

See what this Squamish Nation creator offers from her Tsatawa Crafts Instagram page.

Victoria Saddleman of the Lil’wat Nation believes in recreating what the forest is ready to let go, by putting fallen wood and branches into her offerings at Sziktsut Creations.

#IndigenousCoastBC

If you've been following us on @ZenSeekers for a while you will know about our #IndigenousCoast BC initiative, but here is an introduction to some new experiences fresh for this season.

Connect to three First Nations on Vancouver Island on an epic road trip.

Here is the invitation for you to support Indigenous by making a road trip into history, connecting ancient gardens with experiences and creations that will leave you transformed across Tla-o-qui-aht, Huu-ay-aht and Toquaht First Nations along BC’s west coast of Vancouver Island.

naaʔuu returning for fall 2023

Lastly, if you missed out this spring 2023, you'll want to mark this in your calendar now. This amazing west coast First Nation experience celebrates Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation culture through storytelling, song, dance and feasting together on traditionally inspired cuisine. (See the banner image at the top of this story, celebrating renowned Tla-qo-qui-aht carver Joe David.)

Watch for naaʔuu returning September 2023 as the people of Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation continue to build a sustainable pathway for their efforts to revive Tla-o-qui-aht language and culture.

Share your adventures

Let us know who you connect with and how you’ve found to put a human face to your reconciliACTION efforts; simply include our hashtag #ZenSeekers in your posts so we might be able to feature your journeys.