Thank you for being part of the Cheekbone Beauty community.
Honestly, it's not a regular beauty community. It's a cool one.
Over the last almost 10 years, working in the beauty industry has taught me a lot about what I never wanted Cheekbone Beauty to become. Sometimes knowing what you don't want to be is one of the most powerful lessons. We were never interested in building a superficial beauty brand. We have always believed beauty is deeper than appearance. Beauty is culture. Beauty is community. Beauty is connection. Beauty is feeling seen.
This November, Cheekbone Beauty will celebrate 10 years. Ten years. That still feels surreal to me.
Together, we have been carving a path for Indigenous Beauty to be recognized, respected, and celebrated globally. Every purchase, every share, every conversation, and every act of support has helped make that possible. You have been part of that journey, and I am deeply grateful.
June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada, and I wanted to share a few resources and experiences that helped me reconnect with my culture, my family, and ultimately myself.
The first is attending a Pow Wow.
If you have the opportunity this summer, go.
I would especially encourage anyone in Northwestern Ontario to visit the Northwest Angle Pow Wow. Unfortunately, I can't attend this year, but if you do go, please give everyone a hug from me.
Some of my greatest learning has happened while sitting with family, listening to my aunties tell stories, hearing their laughter, and feeling the love that exists within Indigenous communities. Indigenous families are big and our rotto srun deeper on this land.
If you're looking for a Pow Wow near you, this is a wonderful resource:
Canadian Pow Wows:
https://canadianpowwows.ca/
The second recommendation is a course that completely changed my perspective.
About 11 years ago, I took the Indigenous Canada course through the University of Alberta. Around that same time, I read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Final Report.
Learning the truth about Canada's history, and understanding what residential schools did to Indigenous families, including my own, changed me forever. It helped me understand my family. It helped me understand myself. It deepened my empathy while also helping me build stronger boundaries.
Most importantly, it helped me understand why representation matters.
It helped me understand why I felt so strongly that Indigenous people deserved to see themselves reflected in beauty, business, and leadership.
Indigenous Canada Course:
https://www.ualberta.ca/en/admissions-programs/online-courses/indigenous-canada/index.html
The third recommendation is a book.
Last year, I read The Knowing by Tanya Talaga, and it was incredible.
There is a moment in the book where Tanya shares details about Indian Agents operating in the community where my grandmother would later be taken to St. Mary's residential school at just eight years old. Reading those names on the page made history feel incredibly real. It wasn't something that happened somewhere else. It happened to my family.
The book also reminded me of something that doesn't get discussed enough: Indigenous women were knowledge keepers, healers, leaders, translators, guides, and protectors. Indigenous knowledge helped newcomers survive on this land. That truth deserves to be understood and celebrated.
So if you're looking for three things to do this month, here are my recommendations:
Go to a Pow Wow.
When you hear the drum, put your hand on your heart. Think about the generations before us and the generations still to come. That drum touched my heart, and it still does every time I hear it.
Take the Indigenous Canada course.
Even if you only complete part of it, you'll walk away with a deeper understanding of this country and a new perspective that will stay with you long after the course ends.
Read The Knowing.
Learning the real history of Canada is not always comfortable, but it is powerful.
For me, that learning became part of the foundation of Cheekbone Beauty. It influenced how I think about business, community, sustainability, and responsibility. Indigenous Peoples have always understood that we are connected to the land and responsible for protecting it for future generations. That worldview continues to inspire how we formulate products, make decisions, and build this company.
Thank you for being here.
Thank you for learning with us.
And thank you for helping us create a future where everyone feels seen.
Miigwetch,
Jenn Harper
Founder & CEO
Cheekbone Beauty