CBC Life reached out to the laureates for their perspectives on their journeys and achievements. The following interviews, which were conducted separately, have been edited and condensed.
[At] the heart of what I do is building strong, respectful and reciprocal relationships that are focused on healing inter- and multigenerationally. I often say that the world didn't — and doesn't — need another lipstick brand. We're a company focused on more than just product and sales; we care about the planet and we think about things from a circular and ongoing perspective, with a goal of setting up the next generation for success.I think most Indigenous people are coming into any industry with a slightly different approach.
With taking up space comes a lot of responsibility, external pressure and expectations to live up to. And so I have to remind myself that this idea of perfectionism is not rooted in Nehiyaw culture. We have to hold space for our own people to make mistakes and to be human.The inspiration for the brand first came from a dream I had where there were little Indigenous girls laughing and playing with lip gloss. The inspiration for our purpose and approach came from my own journey.
Indigenous as long as they're indigenous thats the most important thing