They Set Up Businesses (Like a Cosmetics Shop) to Fight Violence

More and more indigenous women in Canada are setting up businesses with a special purpose in mind: having a positive social impact, helping their community and fighting indigenous youth violence.

Among them is Jenn Harper, a mother from the Niagara region of Ontario. In her youth it was not “appropriate” to wear make up. After dreaming of a young native girl wearing lip gloss, she set up a cosmetic social enterprise that puts the spotlight on indigenous women, many of whom have faced an abusive history. 10% of the profits helps educate children on reserve, and Harper names her entirely eco-friendly products after successful North American indigenous women.

“I am using lipstick as a platform to raise awareness about what is still happening to indigenous young people,” says 43-year-old Harper, who runs Cheekbone Beauty from her home office. “We want to change indigenous youth by showing them they are worthy and (should) not feel shame about their history.”

Many others follow suit in wanting to help communities, such as Amanda Kennedy, who set up an initiative which helps youths in danger or at risk of committing suicide, as well as a consultancy helping indigenous women through education. Kennedy has also recently joined the Women of Ontario Social Enterprise Network to help under-represented women develop 150 new social enterprises.