Amy Willier sorts through packages used to make various beading kits at her store, Moonstone Creation, in Calgary, on Dec. 20, 2020.In a normal year, Amy Willier would teach about 50 people Indigenous traditions such as beading between Labour Day and Christmas. Small groups of pupils would gather in Moonstone Creation, an Indigenous gallery and gift shop in Calgary, for a few hours on a weekend, or others would perhaps participate in a corporate lunch-and-learn session under her tutelage.
“Knowledge without sharing is worthless,” said Ms. Willier, who has Sucker Creek First Nation roots. She shipped kits to as far away as Nova Scotia and Michigan. “If you’re not passing on the knowledge, then you’re not keeping the culture alive. So that is so huge in our day-to-day business.” “We are used to being problem-solvers and being incredibly resilient,” said Tarra Wright Many Chief, who is from Kainai Nation and lives in Calgary. “I’ve seen so many businesses that are doing well in spite of the pandemic that are Indigenous because they are so used to having to pivot.”