Two Indigenous women at the forefront of beauty and wellness share their intentional approach to business

Jenn Harper and Shayla Oulette Stonechild are two of the most notable Indigenous women in Canada, showing all how powerful it can be to do business with community in mind. The pair received the 2022 Indspire Awards in the business and commerce, and youth categories respectively. 

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.

How would you describe what you offer through your work — the actual product, service, art etc., but also more than that, what's at the heart of why you offer it?

Harper: We're a colour cosmetics brand and so, tangibly, we offer beauty products.… Our mission is to make beauty more mindful and sustainable, and our vision is to help every Indigenous youth see and feel their enormous value in the world while building a truly circular business with sustainability as a focus.

Oulette Stonechild: [I'm a content creator and] founder and host of Matriarch Movement, a non-profit, online platform and podcast.

[At] the heart of what I do is building strong, respectful and reciprocal relationships that are focused on healing inter- and multigenerationally.

For the last year, I was focused on Indigenous representation.… [Now], I hope to focus more on the Matriarch Movement … and making wellness more accessible to the ones that need it most, which are BIPOC communities. 

Q. What's different about your approach within the industry and how things are done conventionally?

Harper: 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.

Oulette Stonechild: I think most Indigenous people are coming into any industry with a slightly different approach. Our lived experiences, the teachings we come from, our healing journeys, the languages we speak, the land that we are related to and responsible for, are all interwoven and affect our work, short and long term.

There is no way to decolonize an inherently colonial system or industry. However, there are ways to advocate and create change within it. There are ways to "Indigenize" a space that has left out our voices for centuries. 

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. 

Q. What was the inspiration for your unique approach?

Harper: 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. The generational trauma that impacted my journey and that of my siblings is something that shaped my life, and I want to show what it can be like on the other side of that — how we can heal and grow.

Oulette Stonechild: [It was] connecting more to my Cree culture and learning more of the language, concepts and teachings that are interwoven within it. Lately, I have been coming back to the word "wahkohtowin," which means "kinship" [and] reflects on an individual's responsibilities and relationship to the systems [they're] a part of — realizing we have a set of obligations, accountability and responsibility to one's role within our own communities.

My spirit name connects me to that role, to my purpose and to my responsibility here on earth.

Q. When it comes to your process and your goals, what drives you personally?

Harper: I just try to do my best and be better every day. Fitness, nutrition, getting enough rest, connecting with nature — all of those things make me happier and make me feel good, to be my best. I try to be my best self because that is how I can help the most people. 

Oulette Stonechild: [It's] what makes me feel the most alive and what allows me the opportunity to connect to other people through gratitude, healing and joy. 

Q. What's next for you and what are you excited about working on now?

Harper: There are a few exciting projects we have in the works at Cheekbone Beauty. As we continue our sustainability journey, we're making some big changes to our packaging, working on some exciting new products, and continuing to work with our community to make and inspire change.

Oulette Stonechild: I became the first Indigenous global yoga ambassador with Lululemon — I just signed a contract for the next three years. So I am looking forward to working with a company I've worked with on and off with for the last four years. 

One of the first people I ever told the vision for Matriarch Movement [to], I am now working with in a bigger capacity. It shows you the power of connection to other people and to speaking your visions and dreams into existence. You never know who is listening. 

Currently, the team at Matriarch Movement and I have been working on a virtual Indigenous wellness series … highlighting seven Indigenous wellness advocates across Canada.… I look forward to seeing that vision come to life with the help of others within my community. 

Stream the 2022 Indspire Awards on CBC Gem.