Jamie Wetrade-Stevenson, who is a Yellowknife-based photographer from the Tłı̨chǫ community in Behchokǫ̀, is blazing a trail for emerging Indigenous artists and business persons of the North, taking part in a North American-wide competition. Selected among hundreds of applicants across Turtle Island (North America), Stevenson is the sole entrepreneur from N.W.T. selected within the Creative group category of the grassroots initiative known as the Pow Wow Pitch.
“To be a part of the competition, I hope it does bring awareness to other, Northern Indigenous entrepreneurs, but they can take part of this as well. And I really hope that there’s other fellow Indigenous business owners in the North side that get into the Pow Wow Pitch,” said Stevenson.
The Pow Wow Pitch is a non-profit initiative where Indigenous entrepreneurs and business owners, artists and innovators have a chance to pitch their idea or an existing business model to win prize funding of up to between $500 to $100,000, which goes back towards supporting the business.
With the next round just around the corner, Stevenson admits it’s a “exciting” time. Taking part in the Pow Wow Pitch has opened opportunities to connect with fellow entreneurs, business owners, and artists.
“With the competition so far, everyone’s been so kind and nice and really generous with their advice and their time.”
Taking part in the competition has not only made new connections with people from across North America, but has also brought a deeper awareness of the connections Stevenson has here, she explained.
“I also wasn’t expecting the overwhelming, positive support and so it’s been really encouraging I think on my end to see that there’s a lot of people in my corner who support me and who believe in me. I feel very loved and I feel just very supported and all, in all ways. I’m super excited about what the outcome will be but also like I am just super proud of everyone who has shown up for me and who continues to show up for me and all of the other Indigenous entrepreneurs who are part of this is inspiring for sure.
“I’m feeling a little anxious maybe because I just want to know the results, but also there’s something really beautiful about just being patient and like waiting to find out,” said Stevenson.
“All the other businesses out there have been super inspiring to see, other Indigenous entrepreneurs take a lot of pride in their business and what they’re doing and it’s been really inspiring to witness.”
Stevenson said she is proud to be part of the community of Indigenous entrepreneurs, artists and business owners of the Pow Wow Pitch.
“I’ve learnt a lot about myself as a person and also as a business owner and I am just overall very excited to see what will come out of this.”
Working as a photographer for over 10 years, Stevenson includes everyone who is part of the particular photography project into the dialogue of creating the photo.
“A lot of my work is more editorial and commercial works right now,” said Stevenson who is known for combining creativity with precision in her photography. She also has a background in project management and working as a creative partner to bring ideas to life. Stevenson takes a very unique approach, by creating photography in collaboration with the people she is photographing,” said Stevenson.
For Stevenson, the photography is a tool to build and grow connections, and strengthen community.
“What initially inspired me to start doing photography was literally the fact that nobody else in my community was doing this. And so, it definitely felt very different and exciting and I personally I come from a family of artists, so I found that creativity was always around me, but when I picked up the camera for the first time at 14 years old, something just kind of clicked for me. And it definitely felt like it was a medium I was meant to express myself through, which was really something cool to be so young and to to find something that you’re so passionate about at such a young age,” reflected Stevenson.
Although there are more NWT’s businesses competing in different categories throughout the Pow Wow Pitch, Stevenson’s pitch is the only N.W.T. based business that was selected in the Creative group.
“Right now we’re in the process sharing with our community that we’re in this competition and we are doing. It’s called People’s Choice voting, so the public can vote for businesses that they want to vote for to hopefully advance them onto the next round,” explained Stevenson.
Being selected as a semi-finalist in the competition is in itself a huge accomplishment, as every year hundreds of entrepreneurs and business owners make pitches. This year only about a dozen businesses made it into the creative category with Stevenson.
Pitches are rated by judges and there is also public engagement element where the public gets a say through People’s Choice voting. Members of the public can vote once for each category.
Voting is open until Sept. 11, the finalists will be announced on Sept. 15 and the Grand Finale watch party will air Oct. 22.
Anyone who would like to cast a vote online can head to the Pow Wow Pitch website.
More of Stevenson’s work is posted on her social media sites under @JamieStevensonPhotography and her website
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