Alberta entrepreneurs make subscription box filled with Indigenous teachings, self-care goods

A subscription box comprised of goods made by Alberta Indigenous artists and entrepreneurs shares self-care tips from an Indigenous perspective.

Diana Frost, an Algonquin Métis and founder of Colouring It Forward, says when the pandemic hit last March, she and many others struggled with continuing their businesses.

WATCH | See what's in the spring box in the video above

"Most of us, how we sell our products is going to powwows, going to markets," she said.

"I lost around 95 per cent of my income because I mostly sell my books in stores, and a lot of those stores closed."

This prompted her to join the pilot program, Alberta Women Entrepreneurs, to learn tips on how to move her business online.

"One of the recommendations they had was to develop a subscription product, and I thought to myself, 'How on earth am I going to do that?' Because I only have a few colouring books and a journal and a couple notebooks."

She then got the idea to collaborate with other Indigenous entrepreneurs to fill a subscription box with a variety of goodies.

"A lot of my products have to do with healing and wellness, you know, like journaling and colouring," she said.

"So I thought it'd be nice to do a healing box, a box that helps people with their their self care."

The subscription boxes come out quarterly, in line with spring and autumn equinoxes and summer and winter solstices.

"I thought, 'It's also in line with Indigenous teachings of the importance of the change of the seasons. The solstice and the equinox are important times of year for us," she said.

Frost says each box includes a journal, bath products, some skin products, music, art and passages from Indigenous elders.

"The purpose behind the Equinox Box is to help people to do better self-care from an Indigenous perspective," she said.

She says the passages also teaches the subscriber more about Indigenous culture, self-care tips and how to prepare for the change of the season.

"You'll be also given the opportunity to link with artists and musicians, and there's no better way to work on reconciliation than through the arts."

Frost says right now, all contributors are Albertan, but as they move forward she hopes to connect with other companies across Canada.

"I think there's definitely enough artists, musicians and other Indigenous entrepreneurs and producers to continue this box long-term and continue helping people with their healing and their self-care," she said.

The groups first box comes out March 20.