Young entrepreneur launches business to keep culture alive
By Miriam Ostermann, Associate Editor
Photo Courtesy of Payne Many Guns
The Blackfoot language and culture has always been important to Many Guns, whose passion was evident when he received the Southern Alberta Indigenous Youth Award for language with a mark of 97 per cent in his Blackfoot language class at SHS.
While courses are offered on Siksika Nation, the 16-year-old said they only teach the basics and not enough is being done to promote the culture. Therefore, Many Guns set in motion his idea of Niitsitapi Co. – the real people – a clothing company with product advertising Blackfoot words and raising money to fund weekly language classes.
“Nobody is fluent today, it’s like we’re losing it and that’s what makes me want to do something about it,” Many Guns said. “That’s who I am as a Blackfoot person; to speak my language and follow my culture makes us who we are. I think culture and language aren’t a priority on Siksika because there is not much being done to teach the language and not many people are following the culture. But today there’s a change. People want to know their language and their culture, so there’s lots of interest but there are no programs set up.”
Many Guns estimates $400 a week will be necessary to hire two elders and provide supplies to youth aged 15 to 18 years of age.
The young entrepreneur started drafting business plans at age 13. But due to his young age, the idea of creating a campground and family fun centre to encourage positive behaviour fell flat. Yet the roadblock didn’t deter his vision of giving back to his community. Less than one year later, Many Guns received an aboriginal entrepreneurial training certificate and started working on a new business plan. Then, on Feb. 20, he launched Niitsitapi Co. With the old sacred symbol representing a Blackfoot person as the logo, and the name suggesting “the real people” – what the Blackfoot people called themselves in the beginning – Many Guns was not expecting the impact his clothes have already had.
“I just thought it would be a community thing, I wasn’t really thinking that big. I was just trying to do something to help the community and give back,” he said.
“The main idea with the clothing company was to promote the language. My main focus is the language because language will lead to culture, so I thought a clothing line with words on there. Everyone wears clothes.”
Many Gun’s next goal is to increase his inventory and eventually open a store in Siksika Nation, Calgary and Banff. His future aspirations also include attending post secondary school and studying political science or business management, and becoming a lawyer. The 16-year-old said his main goal is to run for chief one day.
Many Guns sells his self-designed clothes online and at pop-up kiosks around the province.
For further information on the company visit the Facebook page, Niitsitapi Co.