forcibly separating them from their families<\/a>, languages, and cultures. Though these schools are now closed, their effects continue to be deeply felt.<\/p>\nThe BigCanoe family experienced confinement, loss of culture, loss of heritage, severe economic restrictions, dehumanization and loss of family.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat has\u00a0a trickle-down effect through my dad\u2019s life, my mom\u2019s life, and then eventually to us,\u201d Jared told INsauga.com. \u201cAnd\u00a0our job as\u00a0healing people is that we\u2019re supposed to break cycles because there\u2019s a lot of\u00a0unhealthy behaviours that\u00a0became normal in our families,\u00a0and then it\u2019s like now we\u2019re doing the work to make sure that our children don\u2019t have to grow up with that kind of stuff happening.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jared struggled with addiction.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was\u00a0pretty much homeless, and I was\u00a0experiencing some troubles with opiate addiction,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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Seeking ancestral guidance, he\u00a0went to a spiritual healer who gave him simple advice.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said, if I continue to use, my life will get worse. If I get sober, my life will get better,\u201d Jared said.<\/p>\n
Jared wanted to break the cycle for his daughter, who is nine years old now.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m about just under six years sober, and I\u2019m back on my feet, and I\u2019m parenting my daughter full time,\u201d he said. \u201cSo I\u2019m\u00a0feeling very\u00a0lucky about where I\u2019m in life.\u201d<\/p>\n
He takes a cultural approach to recovery, relying\u00a0heavily on ceremonies as well as ancestral guidance.<\/p>\n
The first BigCanoe Indigenous Market opened in Georgina in June 2024. Jared was invited to Erin Mills Town Centre for Indigenous History Month last June. He provided a performance and educational piece at the\u00a0mall\u00a0and was invited to come back in September last year. He brought in a cultural display with artwork and T-shirts for Orange Shirt Day.<\/p>\n
Everyone wanted to buy the shirts and the mall management saw the interest in the products, he said. They invited Jared to participate in a\u00a0pitch contest where the first prize is a kiosk in the month of December. He won and the success with the kiosk led to a store.<\/p>\n
The BigCanoe Indigenous Market will open in an approximately 1,000-square-foot store near Sephora, Miniso and Aldo. The store\u00a0symbolizes resilience, cultural reclamation and reclaiming visibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe opening of the BigCanoe Indigenous Market Storefront shines a beacon to those still stuck in addiction,\u201d he said. \u201cOffering hope, healing and inspiration to all Indigenous youth and intergenerational trauma survivors.\u201d<\/p>\n
The BigCanoe Indigenous Market will carry exclusive Indigenous fashion brands, art pieces, luxury beaded jewelry, moccasins, traditional and contemporary homeware, cultural education, healing sessions, handmade crafts, pow wow music and grandfather drums. All sourced from various nations across Turtle Island.<\/p>\n
The grand opening of BigCanoe Indigenous Market is on Sept. 22 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Celebrations will include an official ribbon-cutting ceremony, cake, non-alcoholic bubbly, exclusive deals and addresses from Elders and City Councillor Martin Reid.<\/p>\n
The grand opening is a collaboration with Crystal Harbans, the founder of WellnessXChange.<\/p>\n
Now, supporting his daughter and operating two stores, Jared reflects on the words of his spiritual healer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t believe how good my life has gotten at this point,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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