Market celebrates Indigenous culture

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This article was published 30/11/2023 (665 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The second Gathering of Creations Indigenous makers market is happening on Dec. 9 in Riding Mountain National Park, giving shoppers the chance to purchase authentic Indigenous artisan crafted items for the holidays and learn more about Indigenous culture along the way.

The Visitor’s Centre at Riding Mountain National Park (RMNP), located 99 kilometres north of Brandon, will host Gathering of Creations: Christmas in the Park. The event is being put on by Aaron McKay, an Indigenous artist, speaker and entrepreneur and owner of Giiwe Media, an Indigenous-owned multimedia business dedicated to elevating the voices and history of Indigenous people throughout Canada.

The first Gathering of Creations market was held at the Riverbank Discovery Centre on Oct. 25 and brought together Indigenous artisans from across Westman.

“We had a lot of people come in from the community to speak to the artisans and support them by purchasing their creations, so that was really nice to see,” McKay said. “Walking around, I could hear some customers speaking with the artisans, asking them about where they’re from and what inspired them to make their art.”

Those are exactly the kinds of conversations McKay had hoped would take place. This month’s gathering will also feature Indigenous speakers and storytellers, and McKay had the chance to share his story of reconnection to his culture at the first market.

“I talked for a good hour to people who came in about my company and my website, and I used that as a storytelling tool,” he said. “There was definitely a lot of talk about truth and reconciliation, economic reconciliation, artisans and their creations.”

Thinking about the thousands of years of Indigenous history that go into each item crafted at the market, be it a pair of beaded earrings, fur-lined moccasins or ribbon skirts, inspired McKay to try to change the way people view items they’re purchasing and the artists they’re purchasing them from.

“You’re experiencing history. You’re supporting that, and you’re supporting future generations. You’re supporting stories. You’re wearing the land, the culture. You’re wearing the history of thousands of years of families,” he said. “It’s amazing to think about.”

Education plays a huge part in the truth and reconciliation process, McKay believes, so it’s important for people who interact with Indigenous artists — and everyone who lives in Canada — to listen to Indigenous voices.

“Even if you listen to one story, that’s just a small piece of it, but that in itself is powerful,” he said. “You’re empowering yourself to learn about what happened.”

Everyone’s experiences, and therefore their stories, are unique, McKay said. A big step towards reconciliation is reflecting on peoples’ experiences and looking within, learning about how Indigenous people look at life, what their culture is like, and more.

“It’s a coming together to learn and educate each other and ourselves,” he said.

These markets are a chance for McKay to see people engaging with each other. And even though the first market was held on the day of his grandfather’s funeral, he knew his grandfather would want him to be there, he said.

“That’s the kind of stuff that he pushed for — for people to come together to see that love and to share that love with each other.”

McKay was also able to make valuable connections at the first market, something he hopes will happen again at the Christmas one. In the past year, he’s become the co-chair of marketing for the Erickson Chamber of Commerce. He’s also the first Indigenous person to be part of the chamber. McKay has also been able to speak to the high school students who attend Rivers Collegiate in Rivers, Man., located 41 kilometres northwest of Brandon.

“There’s interest from the schools now, and that’s another area that I want to get into, because I am very big on educating youth but also hearing their stories,” McKay said. “We expect youth to listen, but do we ever listen to them?”

At this month’s market, customers will be given a chance to shop local and support local families and businesses within the area. The products available for purchase will be ones that people have put their spirits, hearts, and souls into, McKay said.

“This isn’t something that’s just mass produced and made in some faraway country. This is local. It’s that heart and soul that you’re buying and that you’re supporting.”

Some items at the market — such as sealskin gloves — will be nearly impossible to find elsewhere, McKay added.

The Southern Chiefs’ Organization, which represents 34 Anishinaabe and Dakota Nations in southern Manitoba, recently celebrated McKay, who is a member of Rolling River First Nation, located 76 kilometres north of Brandon, on its social media platforms.

“Despite being relatively new, Giiwe Media is already sharing our stories while bringing Indigenous entrepreneurs into the local economy,” a Facebook post the organization made on Nov. 20 said. “An intergenerational residential school survivor, Aaron is on a healing journey that now includes mentoring and supporting future generations of creators, storytellers, helpers and leaders.”

And while Giiwe Media is definitely about elevating Indigenous voices and helping Indigenous artists and entrepreneurs, it’s that vision of togetherness that is so central to McKay’s operations that is of utmost importance to him, he said.

“It doesn’t matter what your culture or your background is. I want to talk to you about it. I want to share with you because that’s our home. We’re family. We talk to each other, we learn from each other, we grow.”

McKay is currently speaking with businesses located in RMNP to see if he can open a permanent office in the park, which is part of Rolling River First Nation’s traditional territory. He hopes this will lead to more economic opportunities for Indigenous Peoples, including authentic Indigenous tourism.

Gathering of Creations: Christmas in the Park will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 9.

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