#LiveLocal EatLocal#YXC Festival: Get to know Indigenous-owned entrepreneurs

Lisa Monforton

Posted: Fri. Oct. 30, 2020

This is your chance to get to know the creative Ktuxana community, who have many great examples of Indigenous-owned and operated businesses that are vital to the local scene, while at the same time strengthen the local communities of Kimberley and Cranbrook.

Get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of these inspiring folks' businesses through a series of Facebook Live sessions during the #LiveLocal #EatLocalYXC Festival on Thursday, Nov. 5.

The leaders of the Kootenay Aboriginal Business Development Agency (KABDA) have been doing some wonderful work supporting, promoting and providing professional guidance to help local entrepreneurs, create, grow and thrive in business.

Get to know some of the businesses that will be featured all day during the Facebook Live sessions on Thursday, Nov. 5.

Perceptive eye

Nov. 5 - 1 p.m. - Photographer Blaine Burgoyne has an amazing eye for the beautiful landscapes in his backyard. Visit Indigenous View, and be ready to be awed by this talented professional photographer, sharing his art in raw, sometimes unusual, and wild landscape photographs. They are sure to captivate you. You won't want to miss his FB live session, where he shares how he can help you connect to the landscape and take amazing photos.

“It's a good way to express myself and also helps me clear my mind when I’m out walking in the forest or on top of the hoodoos. It puts me in the moment, nothing else matters cause it’s just me out doing what I do,” Burgoyne says.

“I want to bring out the beauty that we have on our reservation lands and show our hidden gems through photography and I want to give back to my communities the best way I can, as this is vital.”

Healing waters and good food

Nov. 5, 3 p.m. - Ainsworth Hot Springs is a huge part of the vibrant Ktunaxa community, with the hot springs on the shores of Kootenay Lake. But that's not all. It also has excellent dining, at the Ktunaxa Grill onsite, made possible with the talents of Chef Cory Chapman and soothing accommodation at the Yaqan Nukiy Suites.

Chapman, during the FB live session, will show viewers how to make his signature mussel dish. Yum! Keep up to date about what's happening at the resort on their Facebook page here.

Visiting the Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort, is a relaxing way to treat yourself to a little health and wellness. One of the best natural hot springs in B.C., the Ktunaxa First Nation peoples first discovered the healthy benefits of nupika wu’u, (healing waters) along the shores of Kootenay Lake, long ago and people have been visiting them since the 1930s.

The historic hotel and Ktunaxa Grill have been newly renovated with beautiful lodgings, in the Yaqan Nukiy Suites. The property is owned by the Yaqan Nukiy, the lower Kootenay Band of Creston, B.C, returning the Ktunaxa peoples to this significant land so they may share their appreciation with others.

Ktunaxa Grille, Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort, is open Wednesday through Sunday. Get ready for a scrumptious food, fresh, local and Indigenous-inspired. And don't forget to tune in for the live mussel-making sesh with Chef Cory.

Made by women for women

Nov. 5, 5 p.m. - If you’re a woman firefighter, you might have a hard time finding suitable gear with a proper fit. AshfireWear is the creative clothing line from Ashley O’Neil who came up with the idea for her business while firefighting fires in B.C. in 2018, the year she did four tours.

“I was struggling to find gear to fit me or to find any type of protective equipment at all, especially for women!” she says.

So, she created Wildland Shirts and Pants, specifically made by women, for women. Check out her FB page here. During O'Nieil's FB session, you'll hear all about her line of clothing (and maybe some of her firefighting escapades, too). Afterall, that's what inspired her to create her women's gear line. And she also makes other cool garments, too.

O'Neil's firefighting gear is made chemical-free, with natural materials, making the fabric biodegradable and good for the environment, all while meeting forest fire fighting safety standards.

“I've seen many women out there who don't have the proper gear that is too big or small or fits a man's body. I can worry about my objectives and not wardrobe malfunctions.”

Ultimately, she says, she wanted her gear to eliminate waste and not contribute to global warming.

Natural healing remedies

Nov. 5 - 11 a.m. Jennifer Pierre creates, locally-made natural, healing remedies, infused with CBD and hemp with her line, Inspired Spa. Check out her Facebook page to learn more and get your orders placed for your holiday shopping list.

On Nov. 5, participants in the Facebook Live event will learn how to make Pierre's soothing body balm.

Be sure to join the Facebook Live sessions on Thursday for some entertaining, inspiring and fun experiences coming from Ktunaxa's entrepreneurs. You'll come away learning about all the inspiring people in this community.

Get more details on the #LiveLocal #EatLocal YXC Festival here.