“I think that my passion has always been to connect our traditions, our culture, our art, our stories, for other cultures, for other people to learn more about us. Bridging and connecting the two was always something that I love to do,” says Katie Johnson. She is a proud citizen of the Kluane First Nation and the Wolf Clan. She’s been living in and raised in the Yukon Territory.

Coming back from university, she realized there weren’t many Indigenous art and cultural gatherings and she decided she wanted to produce those to empower Indigenous communities. When the Canada Winter Games happened in Whitehorse and there was no Indigenous content planned, she produced a three day cultural gathering showcasing Indigenous artists, performers, singers and songwriters. She did the same in Vancouver for the 2010 Olympics, bringing down 80 people from across the Yukon to participate in the Olympics. Then in 2011, she and Charlene Alexander founded the first ever Indigenous art festival in the Yukon, the Adäka Cultural Festival.

Inspiring her to do the work she does is her love for community, culture, language and traditions. “I was really fortunate to be raised with elders in our community and be really connected to the land and our stories,” Johnson reflects, thinking of how she has always wanted to uplift those stories, voices and the beauty of Indigenous people. She knew early on why she was doing this work because seeds were planted and the work kept evolving as she created safe spaces for stories to be told, led by Indigenous people.

Her advice for someone leaving home to pursue their education would be “never forget where you come from; we come from very strong communities, families, clans, those are inside of who we are and the outside world is very overwhelming. Stay connected to who you are and stay grounded in who you are…You always have a place to come to.”

To someone struggling with their identity Johnson would say, “if you can stay connected to your community, or reach out to others that may have a similar journey…don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't be afraid to reach out to an elder from your community, or don't be afraid to go to that ceremony that might not be at your home. Our communities are so welcoming, and so I think there's always that space where you can carry your culture of who you are, wherever you go. There's always a place for you.”

When it came to obstacles and overcoming them, Johnson just followed her passion and purpose. After the birth of her daughter, she started Bella Elite consulting, working on legacy projects, with Indigenous organizations, forums, events and gatherings. She also wanted to be challenged so she decided to work with entrepreneurs across the North as director of programming and innovation for Entreprenorth, a program that empowers Indigenous entrepreneurs to succeed with tools to have successful businesses. Her work has bridged business and culture in meaningful ways.

As far as what success means these days, for Johnson it means creating legacy projects. She wants to make sure the legacy she leaves her daughter and the next generation is a good one. She also wants to continue to be a connector, bringing people together in a good way. “I feel like I'm not done yet, I feel like there's so much more work that needs to be done, and I'm so inspired by the youth today,” she confides.

Her advice to a youth who hasn’t uncovered their gifts yet would be “trust the process. Trust yourself and don’t rush into things.” Johnson wishes she had been told when she was younger to slow down and take care of herself so she didn’t spend so much time hustling and pushing herself. “Balance is so, so important and you can still achieve your goals but also nurture yourself,” she reassures.

When it comes to self care for Johnson, it looks like being on the land. She also loves spending time with her family and being a role model for her daughter. Spending time in ceremony and with elders is also important to her. Going back to her community for events has been special, too. She’s been trying different things like yoga to build a wellness plan that will work for her beyond her daily walks and time in nature.

For youth who might be struggling on their path, her advice would be “remember who you are and remember that there's purpose, and there's always a way, and there's always going to be someone holding you up and supporting you and connecting with your ancestors to do that as well.”

Producing events bringing Indigenous arts and culture to the forefront, Katie Johnson follows her passions and it benefits her community. Helping entrepreneurs thrive, she loves bringing culture and business together. Founding the first Indigenous arts festival in the Yukon, she’s brought to life an opportunity for artists to shine and everyone to learn about Indigenous culture.

Thanks to Alison Tedford Seaweed for authoring this article.