June is National Indigenous History Month, a time for Canadians to recognize and celebrate the rich history and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples across the country. This year, the TikTok Indigenous Visionary Voices List recognizes visionary creatives, business owners and industry disruptors who are using TikTok to educate, entertain and advocate for the Indigenous community, on and off the platform. We chatted with one on the #IndigenousTikTok Visionary Voices List, Jenn Harper of Cheekbone Beauty, to learn more. —Vita Daily
Please tell us a bit about yourself to start (first/last names, pronouns, some personal background/details, etc.)!
My name is Jenn Harper (she/her), and I am an Anishinaabe woman from Northwest Angle #33, living in St. Catharines, ON, Canada. I am a wife, mom, entrepreneur, and nature lover!
How did you achieve (and continue to grow) your TikTok audience?
Consistency is key. I’m always thinking about how we can create new content that is innovative and exciting for our audience, but also following trends and keep our social media fun for new audiences.
What do you like about TikTok as a platform, especially in terms of how you can use it to influence and inspire those that follow you, and to create social change?
The possibilities are endless on TikTok. Because of the For You Page, people don’t necessarily have to follow our page to come across our content. This helps us share our message about the importance of representation and sustainably minded products and packaging with a larger audience. Additionally, with the shorter content that we share on TikTok, the information we share is a lot more digestible for those who come across it, making learning new information feel not as daunting for those who may not be entirely familiar with Indigenous concepts and teachings.
What topics do you cover/share most? Where do your passions lie?
Have you ever had to deal with haters/naysayers on social media? If so, what’s your approach?
I like sharing a lot about our Indigenous roots, sustainability efforts, and product features/tutorials. We are passionate about bringing representation to the Indigenous community and sharing the importance of being more sustainably minded and protecting our earth. Like most people/brands on social media, I think we have experienced getting hate on our page. We always want our social accounts to feel safe, so we don’t engage with negativity. Instead, we focus on what matters, which is representation and educating those who come across our content.
What have some of the highlights of being so prominent on TikTok been for you?
One of the biggest highlights of being prominent on TikTok is connecting with so many like-minded people. We love when our community tells us that our content has taught them something new or when we get comments and DMs from other Indigenous people thanking us for making them feel seen and represented.
June is National Indigenous History Month; what is the significance to you, and how are you using your voice to create change, establish community and help people in your community (and others) feel seen and understood?
National Indigenous History Month is very important. During this time, we encourage our community to honour and reflect on Indigenous history by listening, learning, and amplifying Indigenous voices. I always try to find ways to incorporate our Indigenous roots into our content. I’m always open to having conversations with our audience and encouraging them to engage with us and ask questions. Just as much as we hope to teach and inspire my audience, they are also constantly teaching us. By having these open conversations about Indigeneity, sustainability, and our overall mission and vision, I hope to serve as a pillar of representation and hope to anyone who comes across our page.
With so many people following you on TikTok, who are some of your favourite accounts to follow?
Some of my favourite accounts are: @deannehupfield, @sherry.mckay, @notoriouscree, @creenomad, @scottwabano and add @ohkairyn.
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