‘Community Unity’, a fashion, arts and music event this Saturday
Posted on Thursday, June 23rd, 2022
Walking down a runway wearing one-of-a-kind Indigenous designs was the first time that Kyrstin
Dumont felt she could fully embody her beauty as an Indigenous woman.
Now, she uses her modelling experience to uplift and amplify other Indigenous youth who are struggling to navigate the Western beauty standards set upon them.
“Diving into the modelling and fashion world in my community in 2018 really uplifted and amplified me in a time that I needed it the most — it put me on a pedestal, which is something I had never experienced before in my lifetime,” says Dumont, who has been modelling for about four years now.
Dumont – a recent Algonquin College dual credit graduate – is an Algonquin Anishinaabe activist, advocate and educator who comes from the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg reserve and was born and raised in Ottawa, Ont.
Through her non-profit model and talent agency, Anangosh Model and Talent Management (AMTM), she helps Indigenous youth connect safely with inclusive designers, photographers and talent opportunities.
“I’ve developed a creative community that is filled with inclusivity and represents our community, our people,” says Dumont.
In less than a week’s time Dumont will be hosting ‘Community Unity’, a fashion, arts and music event at Algonquin College as part of Aboriginal Peoples Television Network’s (APTN) new docuseries titled Warrior Up!
“I had put the proposal for this project together two years ago, and it was honestly something I never thought would take off,” she shares. “When the APTN production team contacted me this past year to let me know that they’d like to start production on my submission, it was a dream.”
‘Community Unity’ will be taking place June 25 and filmed in front of a live audience of over 100 people. The show will incorporate 20 models, 10 designers and many other Indigenous creators in an environment in which they’ve historically been excluded, says Dumont.
Along with Dumont, roughly four other Algonquin College students and alumni are involved in ensuring the success of Saturday’s event.
The fashion show boasts a diverse set of designers including Sky Eagle, Mad Aunty, InukChick, Tricia Monague Designs, Nikki Monague Designs, Diamond Phoenix, Tulugaarjukaliyak and Mini Tipi, with orange T-shirts being supplied by Dumont’s grandfather, Albert Dumont. Dumont says that there is a wide range of diversity in the selected models as well.
“We have youth from 14 years old to 23 years old of all sizes, from XS to XXL, because inclusion matters and Indigenous youth of all sorts need to see themselves on screens — we want to see ourselves in beautiful clothes that make us feel empowered, that make us feel beautiful,” she says.
But, as the name suggests, the event isn’t only for fashion lovers.
“We really wanted to incorporate all of the different facets of art into this event to strengthen and highlight the vast variety of Indigenous artistry,” says Dumont. “Whether it be through fashion or music or contemporary dance, we wanted to showcase the diverse artistry of our Indigenous community.”
The event will include live performances from Indigenous rappers and contemporary dancers, as well as traditional drumming and singing.
Dumont hopes that the event and its eventual Warrior Up! episode will instill confidence in other Indigenous youth to live boldly and take up space in any environment or experience they wish to pursue.
“When Indigenous youth are given opportunities to thrive and strive, they will adapt to thrive and strive even if the environments were not built for them,” says Dumont. “We need safe opportunities that allow us to experience these environments with a full heart.”
Dumont’s event will be featured as episode five of APTN’s Warrior Up! series which will premier in early 2023.
Alongside Algonquin College, many other individuals will be donating their time to ensure the events success: Canadian Inuk actress, Anna Lambe, will host the event, Cheekbone Beauty will supply cosmetics, Adekat Beauty will donate lip products, Northern Dream Weaves will provide hair supplies and Eiralize Lashes will supply false eyelashes for the models.
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