In Alberta, Indigenous women are building a culture of empowerment through entrepreneurship

Input from the Indigenous community has also been pivotal for Lauren Moberly’s business, Fallen Mountain Soap, which crafts artisanal soaps, made with herbs traditionally foraged in the forest by Indigenous people for medical and ceremonial uses. The forests of the Rocky Mountains are botanically rich and the colorful artistic soaps feature herbs like lavender, pine, wild rose, and wild tobacco that grow wildly under their canopy. She was driven to create the business because of her family history: She comes from a long line of entrepreneurs. Her sister inspired her to take up the craft of soapmaking. While some of the skill-based knowledge of her direct ancestors has been lost to colonization, Moberly has been able to learn about soapmaking from others in her family and community. She said that the Elders of her community shared memories of the way that their relatives made soap with her and told her stories about the practice. Her family inspired the idea of Moberly’s business, and her dedication to fostering relationships in the extended community has ensured its ongoing success.

EagleSpeaker, Armstrong and Moberly’s products encourage diversity and inclusivity in the market. By supporting Indigenous-owned businesses like Mother Earth Essentials, Native Diva Creations, and Fallen Mountain Soap, we become allies to Indigenous people and their communities. Engaging with their natural elements and cultural wisdom invites us to have a deeper understanding and is a step in the right direction toward reconciliation.

This story was reported on traditional territories, meeting grounds, gathering places, and traveling routes that are home to many First Nations, Metis. and Inuit. Alberta is situated within historical and present-day lands that Indigenous Peoples have cared for and lived on for generations. We honour the territories of Treaty 4, 6, 7, 8, and 10 and their signatories, including the Blackfoot Confederacy, Cree, Dene, Nakota Sioux, Saulteaux, Stoney Nakoda, Tsuu T’ina, Dakota, Nakota, and Lakota homelands. We also honour the homeland of the Otipemisiwak within the historic North-West. We acknowledge the many Indigenous Peoples living in urban areas throughout the province. We appreciate that modern borders do not align with traditional land use, and we honour the neighbouring Indigenous communities outside of Alberta who have travelled and inhabited this land throughout history.

To learn more,visit travelalberta.com.