Ember Sunchild Whitford. (Submitted photo/Elicia Munro)

By Angela Brown

Indigenous voices

Indigenous model making career on international runways

May 29, 2023 | 5:31 PM

An Indigenous woman from the northwest is forging a career for herself as an international model.

Ember Sunchild Whitford, from Sweetgrass First Nation, will head to Fiji for Fashion Week on Tuesday, to model Indigenous fashions.

“I was asked by designer Helen Oro if I could model for her in Fiji, so that’s where I am going,” she said.

Oro is an Indigenous fashion designer from Saskatoon.

“We’re actually going to be the first Indigenous Canadians to be in this event,” Sunchild Whitford said, noting the show will focus on a variety of new fashions, in addition to Indigenous-inspired pieces.

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She plans to model for other designers in Fiji during her trip as well.

Sunchild Whitford said at this point in her career she is freelancing as a volunteer model in a number of shows to gain experience, but she has future plans to seek employment as a professional model.

“I want to pursue it as a lifetime career,” she said.

Sunchild Whitford also hopes to use her career to promote Indigenous culture and “show off” Indigenous-inspired fashions.

“It makes me feel seen as an Indigenous woman,” she added.

Sunchild Whitford also wants to be a positive role model for other young Indigenous women and raise awareness of important topics, such as Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW).

“I want to be able to become known, so I can bring awareness to Indigenous issues,” she said. “If I’m big, then a lot of people will listen to me. I’ll have a platform. I want people to know the dark history of Canada. It’s a very uncomfortable topic for everybody, for all Canadians. It’s something that has never been talked about [until recently]. There is a lot of racism in Canada as well.”

When Sunchild Whitford isn’t developing her modelling career, the 18-year-old is a student at the University of Saskatchewan, where she is studying psychology.

Her long-range plans are to become a psychiatrist to help people dealing with mental health challenges.

Sunchild Whitford added she has struggled with mental health issues in the past herself and received support. So, she hopes to help others too.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow