Indigenous holiday market in Calgary draws 40 artists and a crowd that is mostly not Indigenous

More than 40 Indigenous artists and entrepreneurs gathered at Calgary's Kerby Centre this weekend for the Indigenous holiday market's 10th year, representing more than 30 different Nations. About 230 vendors applied, but space allowed only 41 to take part, and fees stayed at $100 for the weekend.

Organizer and founder Melrene Eaglespeaker started the market because she couldn't find Indigenous representation or accessibility at other events, despite being an artist herself. "I decided that I'm just gonna make something for my own community, and now it's been 10 years, and this has just gotten bigger and better every year," she said. "The importance of it is just having real representation."

Eaglespeaker estimates about 80 per cent of attendees are non-Indigenous. She said the event gives people a chance to learn about Indigenous art and culture, ask questions and build relationships, and she has watched vendors grow from cash-only sales to payment terminals, displays and bigger product lines.

Among the vendors is Cindy Davis of Three Sister Soap, a family business making handmade body products from natural ingredients. The soaps are named in Cree. "We're reclaiming our language, and learning as well," Davis said. "We're hoping they see the Cree words and maybe that helps to keep the language alive." The business is named after the traditional Three Sisters crops, corn, beans and squash, and it is also a tribute to Davis's sister, who died nearly four years ago.

Mixed-media artist Darby Havrelock, who works in paintings, prints, stickers and beadwork, said markets let her share the stories behind her work. "I get to add so much more to the story of some of my artwork, through what people share, about what they know or what they experience," Havrelock said.

This is the last year in the Kerby Centre's smaller community space. Next year the market moves to the larger Grey Eagle Event Centre.