Bettina Mueller Reichl is the founder and creative force behind Cape de Coeur, a Vancouver-based outerwear label that represents a groundbreaking fusion of high performance and high fashion. Drawing on a lifelong passion for clothing design and a deep-rooted artistic sensibility, Bettina has developed a line of high-fashion rain capes that are both waterproof and windproof—crafted using a proprietary three-layer fabric developed in partnership with an innovative European mill. Her garments challenge conventional fashion narratives while responding directly to British Columbia’s climate and lifestyle.
Inspired by the Pacific Northwest’s natural elements and informed by the province’s legacy of technical innovation, Bettina creates pieces that reflect timelessness, individuality, and environmental consciousness. Her work contributes significantly to BC’s cultural economy by advancing innovation in fashion and showcasing the region’s creative potential on a global stage.
Kari Morgan, of Nisga’a (House of Kw’isk’ayn), European, and Métis heritage, is a sculptor, painter, and designer whose multidisciplinary practice bridges tradition and innovation. Born in Prince Rupert and trained at the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art under master carvers Dempsey Bob, Stan Bevan, and Ken McNeil, Kari’s work explores the tension between contemporary expression and traditional form.
Kari believes traditional art is more than a visual language for the people of the Northwest, she believes it is medicine for the soul. Her practice honours ancestral knowledge and aims to display the strengths of her culture and people to entice a positive narrative change.
Through exhibitions across BC and the Pacific Northwest, Kari uplifts Indigenous voices and invites new ways of seeing. Her commitment to cultural strength and creative exploration marks her as a powerful emerging force in the art world.
Kari was selected by the independent jury as the 2025 Crabtree McLennan Emerging Artist.
The Crabtree McLennan Emerging Artist designation was established in 2016. Named in honour of Brenda Crabtree, Director, Aboriginal Programs, Emily Carr University and the late Bill McLennan (1948-2020), Curator Emeritus, UBC Museum of Anthropology, this recognition aims to highlight and support emerging talent.
Rebecca Baker-Grenier, of Kwakiuł, Dzawada’enuxw, and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh ancestry, is a fashion designer whose work carries deep ancestral connection and cultural strength. A regalia designer since age eleven, Rebecca has created pow-wow and performance regalia for her family and for the Dancers of Damelahamid, with her designs featured on national and international stages since 2016.
Holding a BA in Indigenous Studies from UBC, Rebecca began her fashion design journey in 2021, apprenticing under Himikalas Pam Baker and completing the Indigenous Couture Residency at Banff Centre. Her collections have since appeared at New York Fashion Week, SWAIA Santa Fe, Indigenous Fashion Arts Toronto, and Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week.
Her garments have been worn on red carpets and featured in Vogue, Elle Canada, and museum exhibitions, and are known for their elegance, cultural grounding, and refined detail. Through her work, Rebecca offers bold, beautiful reflections of Indigenous resilience, pride, and creativity.
Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun Lets’lo:tseltun, of Cowichan (Hul’q’umi’num Coast Salish) and Okanagan (Syilx) descent, is one of Canada’s most influential and unflinching contemporary artists. For over four decades, Lawrence has used painting, installation, and performance to challenge colonial narratives, confront systemic injustices, and assert Indigenous sovereignty. His work is both politically charged and artistically groundbreaking—often combining traditional Coast Salish aesthetics with surrealist and pop art influences to powerful effect.
Living and working on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples, Lawrence has exhibited globally, including at the Tate Modern, the Vancouver Art Gallery, and the National Gallery of Canada.
In 2016, the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia mounted a major 30-year survey of his work, titled Unceded Territories, cementing his status as a critical voice in Indigenous and contemporary art. Lawrence’s art demands engagement, calling viewers to reckon with truth, history, and the future of this land.
Tseshaht and Nuu-chah-nulth artist Gordon Dick’s creativity and skill advance the visual language of Nuu-chah-nulth art. Inspired by the ceremonial artistry of his grandparents and family Potlatches, Gordon began creating as a young man, initially teaching himself jewellery engraving after watching Kwakwaka’wakw artist Dennis Matilpi at work. His practice has since grown to include masks, panels, totem poles, bronzes, and carvings that reflect his cultural heritage with precision, humility, and beauty.
Deeply rooted in community and tradition, Gordon carries forward the legacy of celebrated artists like Art Thompson, Joe David, and Tim Paul—mentors and peers who recognized his commitment and craftsmanship. Whether crafting a wedding ring or a monumental memorial pole, Gordon’s work radiates care, balance, and meaning.
Through Ahtsik Native Art Gallery, his studio and carving space in Tseshaht territory, Gordon shares knowledge and welcomes the public into a living dialogue with Nuu-chah-nulth culture, strength, and story.
Authentic Indigenous Seafood Co-operative supports Indigenous fishers and harvesters by building collaborative supply chains and expanding access to fair markets. Focused on environmental, economic, and cultural sustainability, the Co-operative helps communities invest in value-adding, branding, and essential infrastructure.
Rooted in tradition, it ensures profits stay within Indigenous communities and decisions are made collectively, upholding cultural values, stewardship ethics, and traditional harvesting practices. From wild salmon and shellfish to kelp and other traditional foods, all products are sustainably harvested guided by to Indigenous laws and seasonal cycles, and all processed in federally certified facilities to meet export standards.
Each offering tells a story of place, people, and empowerment, reflecting deep relationships with land and water. More than a supplier, Authentic Indigenous Seafood is part of a larger movement for food sovereignty, self-determination, and cultural revitalization. Through partnerships, education, and advocacy, the Co-operative is working toward a future where Indigenous voices lead in shaping sustainable and just food systems.
Touch of Culture is an Indigenous-owned creative fashion business founded by Pam Baker (Himikalas/Sewid-duuk), a proud Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Kwakiutl, and Tlingit designer, artist, and cultural advocate. Rooted in traditional knowledge and lived experience, Pam creates handcrafted pieces that reflect the beauty and richness of her cultures.
Inspired by the teachings of her Elders, Pam began Touch of Culture as a personal journey of reconnection. It has since evolved into a space for artistic expression, cultural sharing, and community engagement.
Each creation—beadwork, accessories, textiles, or wearable art—is made with intention, respect, and heart. Every piece tells a story drawn from ancestral practices, family traditions, and vibrant Indigenous identity.
Beyond art, Touch of Culture empowers others through cultural workshops, mentorship, and collaboration. Pam shares her knowledge to inspire growth and connection. Supporting Touch of Culture means investing in Indigenous artistry, cultural preservation, and a future where Indigenous stories continue to thrive.
Salish Soils is an Indigenous-led waste transformation company based in Sechelt, British Columbia, on the unceded territory of the shíshálh Nation. Founded in 2010 by shíshálh entrepreneur Aaron Joe, it began as a pilot to repurpose fish waste into soil. Today, it processes over 20,000 tonnes of food scraps, green waste, wood, and biosolids annually.
Guided by shíshálh values of land stewardship and circular resource use, Salish Soils blends traditional knowledge with advanced technology to create compost, mulch, and custom soil blends for agriculture, landscaping, and land restoration.
The company has reduced landfill waste, improved soil health, and created Indigenous employment opportunities. A 2022 investment from Raven Indigenous Capital Partners is driving growth and innovation, including a premium bagged product line. Salish Soils is redefining regenerative industry in Canada—Indigenous-led, and community-driven—proving that waste is the beginning of renewal.
Skwlāx Resource Management (SRM) is a civil construction company wholly owned by Skwlāx te Secwepemcúl̓ecw (SteS), located in British Columbia’s Central Interior. Founded under the vision of the Kúkpi7 and Council, SRM was created to foster respectful, collaborative relationships with neighbouring Secwépemc and Indigenous Nations.
Guided by the Secwépemc principle of k̓wséltkten—we are all family—SRM is committed to fostering economic growth, building capacity, and promoting shared prosperity. SRM believes the strength of its Nation is interconnected to the wellbeing of its people and partners. SRM’s focus remains on building a balanced and prosperous future for all.
Historical alliances like the Shuswap-Okanagan Confederacy remind SRM that strong Nation-to-Nation relationships are key to mutual success. SRM works to renew these ties through cultural exchange, shared stewardship, and economic collaboration.
SRM’s services span civil and infrastructure, environmental services, industrial, mining, construction, forestry, and capacity support. Through Skwlāx Aggregates, SRM supplies high-quality sand and gravel from SteS territory.
SRM operates with integrity, guided by its values: Community, Innovate, Inspire, Honour, and Accountability.
Khowutzun Development Corporation (KDC) was established to create sustainable economic opportunities for Quw’utsun Citizens (Cowichan Tribes) while supporting community initiatives and fostering self-determination. Guided by the mission to build partnerships and support training, careers, and business ventures, KDC operates across diverse sectors including construction, project management, environmental services, green energy initiatives, and real estate development.
KDC integrates cultural knowledge and history with industry expertise to deliver high-quality, sustainable solutions that respect the land, heritage, and community. Through collaboration and accountability, the corporation upholds Quw’utsun values in every initiative.
A key driver of Indigenous economic empowerment, KDC provides opportunities for training, careers, and capacity-building for Quw’utsun Citizens through innovative initiatives like Cowichan Contractors, a group of companies that are 100% Indigenous-owned by Quw’utsun Citizens. KDC’s forward-looking leadership is rooted in community empowerment—engaging and equipping citizens with the skills needed to succeed.
As KDC continues to grow, it remains committed to ethical business practices and community-driven success, ensuring Quw’utsun voices lead the way in building a prosperous future.
