I have been meaning to put together an Indigenous Gift Guide for Shopping Local this season, inspired by the amazing artists and businesses I’ve been following on Instagram so I’m thankful that Indigenous Tourism BC has put it together for me! Thanks to their timely email, I present a list of gift-giving ideas that support local and Indigenous businesses. Shop incredible art at local galleries or browse a variety of other gift ideas from local retailers with the safety of secure online shopping.
Indigenous Gift Guide for Shopping Local
This gift guide supports Indigenous economies and communities, and ships from unceded Indigenous Lands across British Columbia. Add Indigenous art to your cart and strengthen a digital economy rooted in care for the land and each other.
Vancouver Area & Online
Bill Reid Gallery: Featuring traditional and contemporary artwork and accessories, including hand-painted sculptures, fine jewellery, and art prints. This charitable organization also has two street-level locations. Proceeds from all purchases support local Indigenous artists and artistic and educational programs.
Skwachays Gallery: The first Indigenous boutique hotel in Canada. Skwachays hosts an in-house gallery with online shopping services featuring Indigenous artwork, including original paintings, framed limited edition prints, jewelry, pottery, wood carvings, and giftware. A social enterprise owned and operated by Vancouver Native Housing Society.
Stó:lō Gift Shop: Located at Stó:lō Nation on the Coqualeetza grounds. Shop in-person from 9:30am to 4:30pm on weekdays or online anytime for local, one-of-a-kind, authentic Indigenous and Indigenous-inspired arts, crafts, paintings, prints, glassware, cards. Pick up your online order at the store in Chilliwack or have it shipped directly to your door.
Heaven N Earth Native Art Gallery and Cultural Studio: (340B Wallace St, Hope) Teresa Walker & Brook Tobacco are a mother/daughter team and company who make authentic hand made indigenous products featuring items such as mixed media bead work, pine needle, birch bark, cedar bark jewelry and baskets. Including an assortment of drums, rattles, leather work, bone, semi-precious stone and medicine products, from the Nlhazkampx, Okanogan, Lakota, and Cree nations.
Whistler & Online
Squamish Lil’ wat Cultural Centre: Authentic and exclusive handcrafted Northwest Coast First Nations art and merchandise. Shop online or visit the centre and choose from a selection of Indigenous handcrafted works of art, home accents, clothing and accessories, jewellery, pottery, baskets, and books. This is where I purchased my favourite face mask!
Okanagan & Online
Coyote’s Gifts at Nk’Mip Cultural Centre: Open weekdays for holiday shopping from 9:00am to 3:30pm in Osoyoos. Download a coupon from their website to receive a 10% in-store discount on handcrafted, locally made items and Indigenous-inspired jewellery, moccasins, housewares, blankets, clothing, and toys.
Syilx Trail Gift Store & Gallery: Located at Lake Okanagan Shopping Mall on Westbank First Nation Lands in the unceded territories of the Syilx People and currently open daily from 10:00am to 6:00pm.
Gourds by artist Janine Lott available at Syilx Trail
Vancouver Island & Online
Culture Shock Gallery: Indigenous owned and operated, rooted in the rich traditions of the ‘Namgis people of the west coast of Canada. Cedar, silver, and abalone are the mood in this Alert Bay gallery.
U’ mista Cultural Centre: Open weekdays from 12:00pm to 4:00pm in Alert Bay, Kwakwa’kaʼwakw Territory. Order one-of-a-kind hand-carved masks and prints by popular Indigenous artists online for pickup within four hours. Free shipping within Canada and the US for orders over $100 CAD.
I-Hos Gallery: Traditional and contemporary Indigenous art from the Northwest Coast, including masks, prints, gold and silver jewelry, and wood carvings. The physical gallery is located between Courtenay and Comox on Vancouver Island, on the original K’ómoks Village site.
Cedar House Gallery: Gallery, studio, and centre for community and conversation in Ucluelet. Owned by a Tla-o-qui-aht artist, the gallery is currently open by appointment. The art showcased is made by local Nuu-chah-nulth artists and Indigenous artists from around British Columbia.
Wildflowers & Co.: This new online shop based in the unceded traditional territory of the Ligwiłda’xw people (Campbell River) strives to stock its digital shelves with 75% local and 25% North American products. Wildflowers & Co. supports small shops, women in business, and Indigenous small business owners. Local and high-quality products, including apparel, jewelry, home decor, and artwork.
Totem Design House – Kwigwatsi Studio: Eco-friendly, locally made in Comox. Open Saturdays 10:00am to 4:00pm until Christmas. Primarily a production facility, the showroom in K’omoks First Nation territory is open by appointment. The Studio contributes to Indigenous youth programs and assists in fundraising efforts for Indigenous communities.
House of Himwitsa Native Art Gallery: Indigenous-owned, specializing in sharing the culture of the Nuu-chah-nulth People — the People who live “all along the mountains and the sea” on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Add artwork, carvings, jewellery, and weaving by local artists to your online shopping cart.
Ay Lelum–the Good House of Design: A second-generation Coast Salish design house in Nanaimo. The new 2020 Fall and Winter Season Yuxwule’ Sul’sul’tun Eagle Spindle Whorl Collection is available on their website and contains ready-to-wear and couture pieces.
Thanks to everyone for sending in their suggestions! Here are a few more local favourites:
Salish.Design: An Indigenous family run fashion company in the Cowichan Valley. Artists include Joe Wilson, Doug LaFortune, Dylan Thomas, Margaret August, and lessLIE. Artists receive royalties off of every sale.
Crowfoot Collective: Indigenous-owned boutique in the heart of Cowichan Bay carrying Local and global goods. All handmade, Fair Trade and ethically sourced. Featuring Jewelry by Claire Crowfoot Jewelry.
FINAWear: Shop online for unique articles of clothing or accessories produced on demand and custom made for you. From masks and shirts to leggings, dresses and scarves. Each product featured Indigenous art created by Gitxsan artist Shar Wilson.
Sisters Sage: Shop online for hand crafted beautiful modern self-care and wellness products using traditional Indigenous ingredients. Artisan soaps, bath bombs, salves and smokeless smudge honors ancestral teachings of sage, cedar, sweetgrass, lavender and more.
Scarlett J Designs: Shop online for 100% cotton face masks with beautiful Indigenous designs. Each mask is hand cut and hand sewn by Scarlett. Functional, fashionable.
And this listing is not local, but it’s a really cool story:
9-year-old entrepreneur Mya Beaudry won 3rd place at 2020 Pow Wow Pitch for her ‘kokom scrunchies‘. She says for her, scrunchies are a way to honour inspirational Indigenous women. She sells them online in a variety of beautiful, colourful designs.
If you have a business to add, please leave a comment on this post or reach me through my contact page and I’ll include it. Thanks!
Gateway Theatre presents Home for the Holidays this season, on demand, from the comfort of your home. For 35 years, Gateway has brought its own magic to the holiday season, and while we cannot all gather in front of the stage, you can grab your household bubble in front of the TV or computer.
The traditional year-end extravaganza has transformed into an intimate online tour through some of Gateway’s most successful and beloved musical theatre productions, transporting the viewer right into the homes of the artists themselves.
Gateway Theatre Presents Home for the Holidays
Opening Night Watch Party: December 18th at 8:00pm On Demand: December 19, 2020 – January 1, 2021 Where: Online Tickets: From $25, available online now
It all begins with Lauren Bowler’s masterful take on “Wouldn’t it Be Loverly”—revived from Gateway’s 2007 production of My Fair Lady. From there, director Barbara Tomasic has assembled a who’s who of Gateway alumni including Tom Pickett, Meghan Gardiner, David Adams, Chelsea Rose, Scotia Browner and many more, reprising timeless favourites from Fiddler on the Roof, The Sound of Music, Annie, The Music Man, The Wizard of Oz, and knockout Gateway classic Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat.
Think of it as a bespoke best-of package crossed with an intimate fireside toddy, bathed in the amber glow of nostalgia, tailored for an extraordinary time when warmth and togetherness is what we need and crave most.
During intermission, Home for the Holidays even pauses to present its Jingle Bell (Scotch on the) Rocks recipe for the adults and a Holiday Hot Chocolate for the kids. Comic asides, behind-the-scenes visits and so much more come to the variety show-style program. Best of all: you’re encouraged to sing along. Loudly.
If you miss the buzz and excitement of attending opening nights, be sure to tune in to the Opening Night Watch Party. Following the Watch Party, ticket holders will be able to view the show on demand with unlimited access until January 1. There will also be accessible viewing options available including audio description provided by Vocal Eye, ASL interpretation, and captioning in English, Simplified and Traditional Chinese.
Win Access
I am giving away On Demand access to Home for the Holidays, here’s how you can enter to win:
Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
Click below to post an entry on Twitter
[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win on demand access to @GatewayThtr #HomeForTheHolidays http://ow.ly/sFbY50CtXh8″ quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, December 1, 2020. The winner will have access for their whole home bubble for ton demand viewing throughout the season. UPDATE: The winner is Caitlin!
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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Sponsored Post — Sponsored by the West End BIA Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
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With Lumiere Vancouver entering its last week of beautiful public art, the festival wants to celebrate with a fantastic staycation giveaway from a few of the amazing businesses in the neighbourhood.
Jim Deva Plaza. Photo by Christopher Edmonstone
Lumiere Vancouver Staycation Contest
Here’s what you can enter to win, to enjoy and experience the West End, valued at $400:
In the comments of that Instagram post, tag a friend you’ll be enjoying this staycation with (when safe!)
The contest is open for entries until Tuesday, December 1st at 11:59pm. Must be a resident of the Lower Mainland to win. The winner will be contacted directly via Instagram direct message.
Photo by Christopher Edmonstone
Now in its 7th year, Lumiere Vancouver is showcasing seven amazing interactive art installations adding sparkle and excitement to two iconic sites: English Bay and Jim Deva Plaza off Davie Street. The extension of the event dates this year has been put in place to ensure that visitors can enjoy the artwork without creating a crowd situation, therefore allowing for proper social-distancing and COVID-19 precautions.
The Museum of Vancouver’s next webinar will explore the concept of shopping Indigenous First and outline the importance of supporting Indigenous businesses this holiday season.
MOV Webinar: Shopping Indigenous First
When: Saturday, November 28, 2020 12:00pm to 1:30pm
Where: Online (Zoom)
Tickets: $1-$10 Sliding Scale (+fee/GST)
Have you ever wondered if it is appropriate to wear Indigenous art clothing if you are not Indigenous? Have you wondered how to source Authentic Indigenous Makers?
Ay Lelum will discuss the impact of non-Indigenous allyship and how others should support by wearing and purchasing such products. With the shift in consumer consciousness of wanting to support Indigenous and BIPOC businesses, they will also discuss how a consumer can identify Authentic Makers.
Not only will Ay Lelum outline what they do as a Second Generation Coast Salish Design House, they will also share other like-minded Indigenous businesses and markets to support.
About Ay Lelum’s Latest Collection
Ay Lelum went into full production mode as Sisters, Aunalee and Sophia independently launched their dynamic new collection, presenting it online in photo and video format for the F/W 2020 Season.
The featured brand captured the essence of Coast Salish art, language, and music through their showcase of wearable art garments, featuring Traditional Coast Salish artwork by their Father, William Good and Brother Joel Good of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. The video launch features their exciting new music in conjunction with the collection–available on major streaming platforms.
Join Ay Lelum for a virtual shopping event at 2:00pm (following the webinar) to view their newest collection and interact with them directly on Facebook Live.
Contributed by Bonnie Burnside, Chair, Downtown Surrey BIA
How would you like to give a little cheer to some of the families in need in our community?
Did you know that the Surrey Christmas Bureau assists 1,800-2,000 families per year with toys and food cards to insure they have a Happy Christmas? This makes Surrey Christmas Bureau the largest Christmas Bureau in BC.
This year, we expect that more of our neighbours will need help.
Ways to Support Surrey Christmas Bureau This Season
What can you do? Visit the Surrey Christmas Bureau website and give a donation through the link on their website. You can also drop off a cash or cheque or toys directly to the Christmas Toy Depot at 13853 – 104 Avenue, Surrey (the former Funky Monkey Children’s Play Centre) Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00am to 5:00pm (wear your mask).
Did you know that most donated toys are dropped off at the Surrey Christmas Bureau after December 1?
This year, we have to do things differently. Parents are picking up their hampers earlier and the shelves are bare. We store enough toys from the previous year to get started but with an earlier pick-up date, parents are already showing up and we are running out of items for all ages.
Toy Donations
How can you help? Drop off your unwrapped toy donations as early as possible. Some ideas for children young children include trucks, dolls and books; for 8-12 year olds – arts & crafts, Lego, Hatchimals, LOL dolls; and for teens – gift card, sports equipment, art supplies. A more complete list is available on the Surrey Christmas Bureau website.
Did you know that over 600 families are “adopted” by service groups, businesses and individual families wanting to spread some Christmas spirit?
Adopting a family is a more personal way to give. You are matched with a family and given some ideas for each child and then purchase gifts. You can either deliver the gifts to the home of the family or drop them off at the Toy Depot where the family will pick up the hamper you have put together.
The Christmas Bureau has a dedicated team matching families with sponsors. Given the new protocols in place (they are all working remotely), they are a little slower than usual so if you have already contacted the Adopt-A-Family team and haven’t received a response, they should be caught up by November 30.
Adopt-A-Family
What can you do? You can contact the Adopt-A-Family team and sign up to Adopt A Family. Remember, families come in all sizes. Please consider adopting a larger family.
Virtual Fundraisers
Did you know that most of the Surrey Christmas Bureau events are run by third parties – groups that support the Surrey Christmas Bureau?
Although we still have supporters, they are finding it more and more difficult to run events and still follow the protocols in place by the Provincial Health Authority. Here are some ideas you might consider:
If you are working onsite, ask your co-workers to bring an unwrapped toy to work. The toys can then be dropped off at the Surrey Christmas Bureau Toy Depot.
If you are working remotely and your company used to organize a Christmas lunch, use the money you would have spent to adopt a family. Or give a portion of the money you have saved not having to commute to the Surrey Christmas Bureau and Challenge your co-remote workers to donate as well.
Ryley and Chloe have been collecting toys and money for the Christmas Bureau for 5 years through their Spaghetti Dinner. This year, they are asking people to drop toys and cash/cheques to the Christmas Bureau every Saturday from 2:00 to 3:00pm. Support them and support the Christmas Bureau at the same time.
If your group or company hosts an annual Christmas Party, use the money that you would have spent on your party and donate it to the Surrey Christmas Bureau. You can send a message to your guests, wishing them a Merry Christmas and telling them that your party money has gone to help families in the area.
Organize a virtual pub or karaoke night and give the proceeds to the Surrey Christmas Bureau. You could even include a Silent Auction.
The Downtown Surrey BIA will be hosting the Gingerbread Village again this year (starting on December 5th) but you will have the opportunity to vote online (every dollar equals one vote) for your favourite gingerbread creation. The creator of the creation that gets the most votes will win $1000 so everyone wins!
However you can help is appreciated. If you need assistance, you can register online.
