Jamie Wetrade-Stevenson, is a talented photographer who has turned her passion for photography into a thriving business. The artist was recently selected among hundreds of applicants across Turtle Island (North America) to take part in a grassroots initiative and competition known as the Pow Wow Pitch, and is the sole entrepreneur from N.W.T. selected within the Creative group category.
Stevenson, who works out of Yellowknife and is from Behchokǫ̀, explained that the inspirations behind her photography are rooted in her experiences as a member of the Tłı̨chǫ community.
“A lot of the inspiration I think comes from what’s around us – the land and the culture and the traditions we hold as Indigenous people,” said Stevenson.
A photographer for over 10 years, she first registered her business in 2018.
“A lot of my work is more editorial and commercial works right now,” said Stevenson who is known for combining creativity with precision in her photography. She also has a background in project management and working as a creative partner to bring ideas to life. Stevenson takes a very unique approach, by creating photography in collaboration with the people she is photographing.
Stevenson told True North FM that photography is about connection and community.
“What initially inspired me to start doing photography was literally the fact that nobody else in my community was doing this. And so, it definitely felt very different and exciting and I personally I come from a family of artists, so I found that creativity was always around me, but when I picked up the camera for the first time at 14 years old, something just kind of clicked for me. And it definitely felt like it was a medium I was meant to express myself through, which was really something cool to be so young and to to find something that you’re so passionate about at such a young age,” reflected Stevenson.
Despite the challenges Stevenson faced, she kept going.
Stevenson confronted barriers, especially when starting her business. In those early days, she felt overwhelmed with how fast everything picked up. It was challenging to juggle the many responsibilities of owning a thriving business and working over full time hours.
“I’m definitely super glad that it’s something I’m still very passionate about today and it led me to so many incredible experiences. It’s helped me create really meaningful connections with people, which is definitely another thing I’m very passionate about,” explained Stevenson.
“And a lot of it for me, was what inspired me these days has really evolved and a big part of it for me is representation. I want to make sure Tlicho youth in our community be themselves reflected and know that they can also pursue their dreams as well. Whatever that might be. I’m definitely just really happy to have been able to start doing this medium of work and then now also seeing so many incredible other artists have come out from a community as well. So I’m definitely excited to see what else we can do as a community,” said Stevenson.
The artist said she has been grateful for the opportunity to work with many creative artists over the years, including Karen Murray, who is from the Dëne Sųłıné community.
“A lot of the work that I have done that’s on my website is work that I’ve done with Karen Murray, who is also another fabulous Indigenous creative who had put together a lot of the looks in the photos and kind of merging the two cultures together,” said Stevenson.
Her advice to young entrepreneurs is to practice being patient with themselves and valuing their health and wellbeing as they value their work.
“The one advice that I do have is just being gentle with yourself,” said Stevenson, who warned that there can be a fine line between being passionate and hardworking and burning out.
Stevenson explained that it can be difficult to balance being passionate and creative and putting all your energy into something you love doing, but if you don’t balance it it can destroy that creativity and also affect health and wellbeing. If that happens, Stevenson recommends getting support.
In the North there is limited funding available for businesses, which makes it more challenging for entrepreneurs and business owners.
Stevesons explained that opportunities to access funding can help businesses to grow and in turn can have huge impacts on communities.
Finding funding is one of the biggest barriers that Stevenson has faced with running her business.
Securing funding can go a long way to help business owners like Stevenson invest in things like new equipment and also to take on bigger projects, building stronger systems to support clients and polish each step of the process for her clients.
“Not just for myself but something that I can eventually get back to the community in meaningful the ways,” said Stevenson who has some ideas in mind for how she wants to do that.
Stevenson is pitching her photography business this year into the Pow Wow Pitch, a community of Indigenous entrepreneurs across Turtle Island who work collaboratively.
“Pow WOW pitch is a non-profit organisation. They are basically all about supporting Indigenous, entrepreneurs across Turtle Islands, so North America, not just in Canada,” said Stevenson.
The Pow Wow Pitch is an initiative where Indigenous entrepreneurs and business owners, artists and innovators have a chance to pitch their idea or an existing business model to win prize funding of up to between $500 to $100,000, which goes back towards supporting the business.
Indigenous people living anywhere on Turtle Island (Canada or the United States) of any age or gender who have an idea or business at any stage and in any industry can apply. Applications open in April this year and closed in June.
“It’s a friendly fun competition, where Indigenous entrepreneurs across, North America have this opportunity to pitch their business,” explained Stevenson.
Although there are more NWT’s businesses competing in different categories throughout the Pow Wow Pitch, Stevenson’s pitch is the only N.W.T. based business that was selected in the Creative group.
“Right now we’re in the process sharing with our community that we’re in this competition and we are doing. It’s called People’s Choice voting, so the public can vote for businesses that they want to vote for to hopefully advance them onto the next round,” explained Stevenson.
Stevenson was selected as a semi-finalist in the competition and next will continue to go through variations of pitching to judges. It’s a huge accomplishment, as every year hundreds of entrepreneurs and business owners make pitches. This year only about a dozen businesses made it into the creative category with Stevenson.
Pitches are rated by judges and there is also public engagement element where the public gets a say through People’s Choice voting. Members of the public can vote once for each category.
Anyone who would like to cast a vote can head to the Pow Wow Pitch website.
Voting is open until Sept. 11, the finalists will be announced on Sept. 15 and the Grand Finale watch party will air Oct. 22.
Being selected as s semi finalists was a tremendous honour for Stephenson, who says taking part in the Pow Wow pitch has also given her a positive boost fueling the rebuilding and continuation of her photography business.
“I’m super excited about it and I think it’s going to be really fun to do,” said Stevenson. Taking part in a competition like this is a first for her business, but the experience has been more than just a competition, she explained.
“It’s really awesome to be able to make friends with other Indigenous entrepreneurs, although I understand that this is a competition, it doesn’t feel like a competition at all.”
“It just definitely feels like more of a community and everyone has been super kind and nice so far. And yeah, it’s been really awesome to be a part,” continued Stevenson.
Stevenson explained that before entering the Pow Wow Pitch, she was in the process of rebuilding her business and doing a bit of restructuring.
“And when this competition came into play and it became known to me that I could do something like that, I thought it was just kind of the perfect time to put myself back out there and doing this competition, kind of aligns with other things that I want to do.” said Stevenson.
Anyone who would like to continue to follow along with Stevenson’s work can head to her social media sites under @JamieStevensonPhotography and her website
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