Society
10 Indigenous Content Creators You Should Be Following
In honour of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, here are 10 Indigenous content creators you should be following.
by : Heather Taylor-Singh- Sep 30th, 2021
Shina Novalinga, Rashelle Campbell, Michelle Chubb
September 30 marked the first annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. In June 2021, the federal government announced that the newly implemented federal holiday would honour the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families and communities—wearing the colour orange also shows support and raises awareness on this day. As we continue to learn about the many injustices faced by the First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada, it’s important to stand in solidarity and celebrate the cultures of Indigenous communities and recognize them every day. In this, we want to spotlight Indigenous content creators spanning across Canada, who are sharing their various talents. From throat singers to rug tufters to makeup artists, here are 10 of our favourite Indigenous content creators that you’ll want to follow.
Shina Novalinga (@shinanova)
Shina Novalinga is a 22-year-old throat singer who hails from Montréal. She started posting singing videos on TikTok with her mom over a year ago, during the pandemic. Novalinga learned to throat sing at the age of seven, a couple of years after she moved to Montréal from Puvirnituq, Nunavik a small village in Quebec. Since going viral last year, Nova’s garnered over three million followers, who tune in to hear her and her mom’s unique voices and learn about Inuit culture.
@shinanova Support us by getting our album in the link in my bio! Nakurmiik!#supportindigenousartists #indigenous @kayuulanova
Sarain Fox (@sarainfox)
Advocating for Indigenous rights, Sarain Fox is a force to be reckoned with as she spotlights the works of Indigenous communities—from fashion to filmmaking, which is the focus of her media company, Land Back Studios. Through her work, Fox highlights personal experiences while incorporating Indigenous history— and she’s widely respected because of it.
Scott Wabano (@scottwabano)
Scott Wabano–a Two-Spirit Iyiyuu creator from the Cree Nation of Waskaganish, currently based in Toronto–uses his TikTok platform to create light-hearted, relatable comedy videos and aims to fill the gap in Indigenous fashion and beauty content. “The content I create is geared towards youth, specifically Indigenous, Two-Spirit, and Indigiqueer youth and the lives we live,” Wabano told HuffPost Canada last year. Through Wabano’s content, he’s able to relate to a wider audience, who feel represented and don’t feel shame for being themselves.
@scottwabano Out for a coffee run w/ @kendrajessie @notoriouscree @indigenous_baddie @nikitaelyse ❤️ #indigenous #fashion #nativetiktok
Marika Sila (@thatwarriorprincess)
Marika Sila is an Inuit actress from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories—you might even recognize her as sergeant Yuka Mongoyak from The Twilight Zone reboot. On her TikTok, you’ll find Sila showing off her acting skills while displaying Indigenous regalia. She also encourages viewers to support Indigenous brands and designers and educates people on Indigenous content in a digestible way. Sila is also a hoop dancer and fire performer, so expect to see some of her lively routines posted alongside her activism work.
@thatwarriorprincess SHARE this post if you support the “Land Back” movement. ✊🏽🧡🌊 #indigenous #nativeamerican #indigenoustiktok
Nikita Kahpeaysewat (@nikitaelyse)
As a storyteller, Nikita Kahpeaysewat, who is Nēhiyaw, uses her Instagram to share personal experiences and personal style, while advocating for community building, Indigenous peoples’ land rights and environmental autonomy through beautifully shot photography and thoughtful Instagram captions. Kahpeaysewat is also in her final year studying environmental science at Mount Royal University in Alberta, so expect the intersection of her Indigenous identity and her knowledge of the environment to continue propelling her content and educate followers.
Sherry Mckay (@sherry.mckay)
Sherry Mckay is from the Sagkeeng First Nation in Winnipeg and has been using comedy as a way to educate people about Indigenous culture on TikTok, discussing topics from residential schools to Indigenous brands to support. Currently, she has over 489,000 followers on the app. “I don’t fit a perceived notion of what Indigenous people look like, and that’s fine because the amazing thing is that there’s so many different nations and tribes across the world and we all don’t look the same and that’s the beauty of it,” Mckay says in one of her videos.
@sherry.mckay Who stands with indigenous people?
Rashelle Campbell (@rashelle.ca)
If you’re searching for new home decor, look no further than Rashelle Campbell. The Nehiyaw Cree artist based in Alberta started tufting quirky, colourful rugs during the pandemic last year, which has now become her full-time job. Campbell’s work is heavily influenced by early 2000s pop culture moments (think if Lizzie McGuire and Austin Powers had a baby). Campbell also fuses her Indigenous identity with her work, sharing personal anecdotes and advocating for community rights on her social media. She has also donated some of her profits to Indigenous charities, like The Native Women Resource Centre of Toronto and Niginan Housing Ventures.
Michelle Chubb (@indigenous_baddie)
Michelle Chubb is a 23-year-old Cree TikToker living in Winnipeg who went viral after sharing a video of her jingle dress last year. The jingle dress is known in Indigenous communities as a garment for healing, which Chubb has honed in on in her platform. Chubb’s content features a mix of comedy sketches, general Indigenous activism and awareness, and most recently, motherhood. With over 450,000 followers, she aims to inspire younger generations to get out of their shells, heal themselves and present a more honest version of themselves to the world.
@indigenous_baddie #voiceeffects today is a different story, I am now embracing who I am ✨🦅
♬ You Driving Me Crazy (Indian Girl) – Joey Stylez & Northern Cree
Lakisha S. Custer-Sewap (@nithaomalakisha)
Subtlety is not Lakisha S. Custer-Sewap’s specialty, and that’s why we love her. This 22-year-old Woodland Cree beauty content creator, currently based in Saskatchewan, has been sharing her bright and colourful makeup looks for the last few years on her Instagram—she’s even done looks based on Indigenous designs. While we’re required to masks for the foreseeable future, having a fun makeup look can make you feel empowered—Custer-Sewap’s photos serve as the perfect inspiration to try out a pop of blue or add some jewels to your next eye look.
Larissa Munch (@lariissalynn)
At 17, Larissa Munch, a Carrier and Nehiyaw from the Nazko First Nation in British Columbia, is using her TikTok to share her jingle dancing skills. Some of the teen jingle dancer’s most popular videos are of her Powwow dancing somewhere in her home or her backyard— this skill is something Munch developed from a young age. Through her content, Munch is inspiring Indigenous youth to lean into their culture and become more in touch with their communities.
@lariissalynn Feels good to dance ♥️ #fyp #jingledress #native #healing #prayers
Read more:
Here’s How You Can Be a Genuine Ally to Indigenous Communities in Canada
12 Indigenous-Owned Beauty Brands to Know and Support Now
Podcasts, TV Shows and Books To Educate Yourself on Indigenous Culture and History
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