'Connection, community, empowerment': Giiwe Media links reconciliation, Indigenous tourism

Aaron McKay is a man on a mission.

McKay, 32, an entrepreneur whose traditional Anishinaabemowin name Mashikaydun translates loosely to "the sounds of a storm that's coming in the distance," recently launchedGiiwe Media to showcase "our home, our stories" in the Brandon area as a form of Indigenous tourism.

The idea is to boost reconciliation by sharingFirst Nation, Mtis and Inuit stories while helping bring other Indigenous entrepreneurs into the local economy, The Rolling River First Nation member says.

"My successes are their successes," McKay said,"my successes will be future generations' successes. I do things not for myself. I do things to give back and I do things to plant seeds for the future."

Giiwe Media became a registered business in Manitoba on Aug. 15. McKay's goal now is to establish himself in Riding Mountain National Park his home which has received support from Rolling River First Nation chief and council.

"I want to offer authentic Indigenous tourism experiences and products, as well as being a link for other Indigenous entrepreneurs and artisan storytellers to help them get started," McKay said. "I want to see people succeed."

Giiwe Media is not to make anybody feel guilty, McKay says, but to encourage people to seek the truth and acknowledge the full history of Canada.

"Learn with your heart, your spirit, your mind, all of that," McKay said. "Take action and seek that knowledge, seek that truth, and then reconcile."

McKay's focus now is building community and helping people find their voices.

One of his first steps was hosting the Indigenous-centred Gathering of Creations Marketat the Riverbank Discovery Centre in Brandon on Saturday.

Another market at Riding Mountain National Park, about 100 kilometres north of Brandon, is scheduled forDecember.

Jessica Saler, member relations and marketing coordinator for the Brandon Chamber of Commerce, says Giiwe is a unique business because it is proudly Indigenous and centred on the community, raising awareness about reconciliation and promoting Indigenous stories.

"I think that's something we need more of," she said. "He really is passionate and cares about what he does ... You can see how fast he's growing and I definitely think that his passion and dedication to the work that he's doing is so important."

Saler says McKay uses his media to tell stories as a way to give back, while thinking about where people come from and how thatshapes the community.

There are lots of Indigenous businesses in Manitoba, but they are not always known or showcased. Saler saysGiiwe Media can showcase themand show how they belong in the local economy.

"I hope that that encourages other Indigenous businesses to want to get more involved in our economy, because I think they're huge and important," Saler said.

Economic reconciliation the inclusion of Indigenous people and communities in economic opportunities is something the chamber is working toward.

Members such as Giiwe Media encourage others to join the chamber and become part of the Brandon economy, she says. Local business can be a part of this by working with McKay, sponsoringGiiwe Media events or connecting and talking on social media as a show of support.

Nichelle Wilk is an Indigenous creator eager to collaborate with McKay. She had her business, Aunty Nich Creations, at the Gathering of Creations Market on Saturday.

"I kind of just like jumped the gun and called, got ahold of Aaron first and was like, 'I want to be a part of it,'" Wilk said.

The market was an opportunity to connect with other Indigenous creators and artisans, Wilk says, adding the event helped foster a sense of belonging because it is a specifically Indigenous market.

It was also an important opportunity for Indigenous people to be a part of Brandon's economy, she says.

Most artisans are home-run businesses without a storefront, Wilk says.The artisan market providesan opportunity to get out and specifically promote Indigenous-owned businesses to the greater community, Wilksaid: "This is awesome it's about connection, community, empowerment."