Culture is not a product. It is a relationship and a responsibility.
At Bead The Change, cultural integrity guides how we develop workshops, learning experiences, artwork, resources, and partnerships. As an Indigenous-owned business grounded in Haudenosaunee community, language, relationships, and ways of knowing, we recognize that not every teaching, story, practice, place, or cultural item is ours to share.
Our work is grounded in relationship. We consider where knowledge comes from, who has the responsibility to carry it, what is appropriate to share, and how community should benefit from the work.
Through our participation in Indigenous Tourism Ontario’s Paths to Global Readiness mentorship program, Bead The Change is continuing to strengthen our approach to cultural integrity and responsible Indigenous tourism. ITO’s Indigenous Cultural Integrity Guidelines emphasize protecting Indigenous knowledges, cultures, traditions and beliefs while preventing cultural appropriation and exploitation.
For Bead The Change, this means our work is guided by:
- Community connection — maintaining meaningful relationships with community, language speakers, Elders, Knowledge Holders, artists, educators and other community members.
- Cultural responsibility — sharing teachings and experiences that are appropriate for the setting while respecting knowledge, practices and spaces that are not intended for public or commercial use.
- Context, not consumption — ensuring art, language and cultural teachings are shared with historical, cultural and community context rather than being separated from the people and relationships they come from.
- Reciprocity — creating opportunities for Indigenous artists, speakers, youth, Elders and community partners to participate in and benefit from the work.
- Continued learning — recognizing that cultural integrity is not a box to check. It requires ongoing relationships, reflection, accountability and guidance.
