Bougie Birch

09/06/2026

Today is the first official United Nations observance of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Women and Girls, and for us, it feels like a really good day to recognize some of the women and girls who have been part of Bougie Birch over the last four years and beyond.

September 5 honours Bartolina Sisa, an Aymara Indigenous leader who resisted Spanish colonial rule and was executed on this date in 1782. The day has been recognized for decades in parts of the Americas, and in 2025 the UN formally made it an international observance, which makes this year the first official global recognition.

We wanted to use today to celebrate the Indigenous women and girls who have supported this work in all kinds of ways, through mentorship, collaboration, creativity, knowledge sharing, encouragement, introductions, friendship, and just showing up when it mattered.

Bougie Birch has never been built in isolation. So much of what we have become has been shaped by the women and girls who have shared their time, ideas, care, perspective, and support with us along the way.

Some have been part of the journey from the beginning, some came in later, and some have helped in ways that probably felt small at the time but made a real difference to us.

We see you, we appreciate you, and we are very grateful to have you as part of the Bougie Birch story. ❤️

09/02/2026

Supporting Indigenous artists and businesses doesn’t have to wait for a specific day on the calendar. 🧡
Here are simple, meaningful ways to show up all year:

🛍️ Buy directly from Indigenous-owned businesses and artisans (not just resellers)
📖 Read and share books by Indigenous authors
🗣️ Follow, comment, and genuinely engage with their content — algorithms notice, and so do people
🎤 Book Indigenous speakers, artists, and consultants for your events and workplaces
📣 Share their work with your network — a repost can open doors
🖼️ Attend their events, exhibits, or talks in person when you can

Support isn’t only about a purchase. It’s about visibility, consistency, and genuine relationship.

A few incredible artists, authors, and businesses from our RSB community 👇
Janelle Niles Kokom Scrunchies Vanessa Lee Brousseau Passthesage Bougie Birch

Who else should we be following? Drop them below 🧡

ReconciliationSpeakersBureau

08/30/2026

08/11/2026

A table full of dreamcatchers, each one completely different. That’s kind of the point. 🤎

Bougie Birch private workshops bring groups together through making, storytelling, and shared experience. Participants learn about the origins and cultural significance of the dreamcatcher while creating one of their own, with plenty of room for conversation, creativity, and connection along the way.

It’s hands-on Indigenous-led learning that doesn’t feel like sitting through a presentation — because sometimes the best conversations happen when our hands are busy.

We offer private workshops for teams, organizations, conferences, community groups, schools, and special gatherings.

Looking for something meaningful to bring your group together? Book a private Bougie Birch workshop.
Send us a DM to start the conversation. 🪶

08/02/2026

Summer so far at Bougie Birch ☀️

Workshops, markets, kits, community, good conversations, and a whole lot happening behind the scenes.

Somehow it’s already August, so here’s a little look at what we’ve been up to so far.



Some of our go-to books we bring along to workshops for participants to check out.

Work and FIFA. ⚽️

Research and development 🧪

We hold berries near and dear to our heart ❤️ 🍓

Traditional materials education moment 🌳

Successful prototype testing ✅️

That good medicine 🌬

International knowledge sharing 📚

A special class ✨️

Be proud of who you are every month. It's sacred 🌈

View from the top 😍

We can celebrate our differences while still being united 🪶

Nurturing curiosity to foster understanding 🫶🏼

Indigenous women and girls in Canada are 6.5 times more likely to be victims of homicide than non-Indigenous women, according to data from Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada.

Not saying Sabe is a Bougie Birch fan, but the evidence is right there.

A little reminder from the end of the canoe: you are still being carried forward.

Every journey has a way of teaching you as you go. Sometimes the point is not to know the whole route from the beginning, but to keep moving with care, pay attention to what carries you, and trust that each part of the path has something to show you.

08/02/2026

07/24/2026

My work is often described as a dreamcatcher workshop, but that isn't actually what I'm offering. The dreamcatcher is the vehicle, not the destination.

Participants certainly learn about the dreamcatcher's Ojibwe origins and leave having made one themselves. But the workshop is ultimately about something much broader: understanding Indigenous diversity, challenging pan-Indigenous assumptions, exploring how cultures evolve and interact, reflecting on commercialization and cultural responsibility, and creating space for honest conversation. The dreamcatcher provides a shared, hands-on experience through which those conversations can happen.

For that reason, my work is not intended to replace an Ojibwe-led teaching about the dreamcatcher. It is a distinct educational experience with different learning objectives. The finished craft is simply one tool among many used to foster understanding.

07/22/2026

History is rarely as simple as we hope it will be.

The story of the dreamcatcher is no exception.

In our newest article, we explore the dreamcatcher's Ojibwe origins, Lakota traditions, relationships between Indigenous Nations, commercialization, and the responsibilities that come with sharing Indigenous knowledge.

Because understanding begins when we're willing to look beyond a single story.

📖 Read the full article:
https://bougiebirch.shop/blogs/birch-bulletin/who-is-allowed-to-teach-the-dreamcatcher-exploring-history-relationships-and-responsibility