Grassroots change require collaboration between all areas of our society, including businesses. Shop First Nations is an Indigenous-owned enterprise that has a mission to bolster First Nations, Inuit, and Métis businesses by encouraging consumers to invest in their online goods and services. Through the Shop First Nations website you can find a directory and links to Indigenous businesses across Canada.
“A key aspect of our initiative is to provide an avenue for all Canadians to support Indigenous businesses, which connects into a greater goal of truth and reconciliation,” said Rob Schulz, of Shop First Nations, who along with Chelssie Baker makes up the ownership team.
“We are always looking for ways to support the community,” continued Schulz. “We were then introduced to the Moose Hide Campaign through Spirit Bear Coffee Co, who is part of our network of businesses. We were immediately drawn to the Moose Hide Campaign’s commitment to ending violence against Indigenous women and children, and knew that this was something we needed to support.”
The Moose Hide Campaign was started by daughter and father, Raven and Paul Lacerte who were inspired to cut up tiny pieces of moose hide as medicine for a social ailment in our society – domestic and gender-based violence. Each pin has been shown to spark five conversations on the critical issue of murdered missing Indigenous women and two-spirit plus people.
From that initial introduction, Shop First Nations made the decision to share the Indigenous medicine with their customers as well as donate a portion of the proceeds of the sales of their popular Indigenous gift box campaigns. The pins are also present when Shop First Nations attend in-person events such as the annual Indigenous Craft Market in New Westminster.
Indigenous women face a grim reality, being four times more likely than non-Indigenous women to be victims of violence. They make up 16% of all female homicide victims and 11% of missing women, despite comprising only 4.3% of Canada’s population. Moreover, Indigenous women are twice as likely to experience violence from their current or former partners, with over 13% of Indigenous people experiencing partner violence, double the rate of their non-Indigenous counterparts.
“We want to create a safer Canada for all women and girls,” said Chelssie Baker. “My daughter London deserves to live in a country where she is safe from harm. The Moose Hide Campaign is something that provides a tangible way for us to make change in our country – and if we can spread the message with our customers, even better.”
Through this grassroots partnership, Shop First Nations and the Moose Hide Campaign haven’t just raised funds, they’ve raised voices. Every pin shared, every conversation started, contributes to a collective effort to address the root causes of violence and build a safer, more equitable society.
“The simple act of sharing our moose hide pins can make a small but meaningful change in the community,” said David Stevenson, CEO of the Moose Hide Campaign. ” Shop First Nations is committed to empowering Indigenous voices, which perfectly aligns with our own mission.’
