Kim Coltman's Indigenous Fashion Show in Kamloops is just the start of big plans for Europe.

Kim Coltman, founder & Executive Director of Fashion Speaks International (FSI) showcased wearable art made by six Indigenous clothing designers in honour of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirit Inquiry known as MMIWG2S. The show's theme? Resolution.

FSI’s very first show happened in 2015 after the commencement of the MMIWG inquiry. First Nations, Metis, and Inuit families across Canada were hastened into a spotlight, sharing their knowledge in hopes of finding the truth in the great mystery. What happened to these people? Where are they? When will they be home?

Valley TV News covered the fashion show and did an in-depth interview with KimColtman.

Kim explained that the fashion show was originally planned to be at the Quaaout Lodge & Spa at Talking Rock Golf Resort in Little Shuswap. However, the guest wing of the building burnt down 10 days before the event, so Kim and her associates had quite a job to put on their special event, which they managed to do at the Kamloops Residential School Gymnasium in Tk'emlups te Secwepemc.

"I am thrilled with the way things have happened tonight. We pulled together. Our community pulled together so last minute." said Coltman.

The entire fashion show was a sacred ceremony with Indigenous people’s safety in mind. Not only was education a priority, so was witnessing the detailed work of the designers and seamstresses on the models who sometimes walked and sometimes danced on the green catwalk. 

Fashion is no new concept to Indigenous people, and it shows, Coleman explained. Before contact (with Europeans), we had fashion for over a millennium. We had dyes, buttons, fringes, sewing techniques, patterns, fabrics, furs, adornments, jewelry and body art.

Said local model, Kelsey Jules,"It’s a great opportunity to showcase Indigenous designers as well as Indigenous peoples. I get to represent my community and my people and I feel like it’s a huge honour to do so."

“We’re teaching the young models to walk with their heads held high, to make eye contact, so that they’re acknowledging people that are around them and that way those people are acknowledging them making it much harder for a predator to just take them, without somebody noticing.” said Kim Coltman.

The show was unique also in that it showcased the work of up-and-coming designers. “I'm really holding traditional knowledge of plants and botanicals of the sto’:lo’ people through my fashion. So it’s contemporary, it’s not traditional fashion but it’s traditional knowledge.”  said fashion designer Sandra Froher. 

Kim Coltman will be taking the group to Paris and _______ this spring. She has her eyes on the Paris Olympics too.

“All My Relations' -  A multi-generational family who practice different forms of dancing opened and closed the show. Every dance required different regalia typically worn at Pow Wows.  Kukwstsi’t. They prayed for us in good thoughts and shared the names of their dancing styles. Kukwstsi’t.. 

You don’t need to be Indigenous to attend open invitation Indigenous events. You just need an open mind, and non-violent - a recommended method to create eco-friendly bridges between communities.