The Tsleil-Waututh Nation held a very unique fashion show on July 30 to empower the youth in the community.
The idea originated from a young Tsleil-Waututh member trying on her older cousin’s graduation gown at a community garage sale. Leaders in the community witnessed the smile on this young girl’s face and the idea of giving the youth in the community a chance to share their beauty with the rest of the community began.
TWN Fashion Gala 2018 was a night to remember for the community. It was about building up the youth’s self-esteem and confidence, helping them realize they are beautiful inside and out. The youth who walked the runway had smiles that lit up the room as they modelled stunning clothing, shoes and accessories from Indigenous designers like Chloe Angus, Mia Hunt, Tyler Jacobs and Alicia and Craig Stevens.
There was an energy in the community centre that evening that vibrated through everyone who was there to witness this exceptional event. We couldn’t have made this evening possible without the contributions of a long list of donors, including Unity Clothing, T’Sala Salon, Darwin Construction and the Raven Pub which gave gifts for the model’s swag bags, and those who donated money to purchase tables for those who couldn’t afford a ticket.
Tsleil-Waututh Chief Maureen Thomas has always said the youth are our future and everything we do now and every decision we make today affects them. “Youth – A World of Opportunity” is a theme the Nation is working on to empower the youth and build up their confidence to be proud of who they are and walk with their heads held high outside our community.
We hope to keep this event alive and are encouraging more youth to participate at our next empowerment event. ■
Sarah Thomas helped organize the TWN Fashion Gala and is the communications manager with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation.
