Reconciliation through the arts: Indigenous subscription box opens up a safe space for dialogue

By Hailey McCue

SUDBURY–Nicole McLaren’s foray into business with Raven Reads all began in her book club near Kamloops, B.C..

As an entrepreneur at heart, McLaren’s steady search for opportunities combined with her mixed heritage of Métis, Cree and European, led her to become the founder and CEO of Raven Reads Books Ltd, a thoughtfully curated Indigenous literary subscription box.

Every three months, Raven Reads subscribers receive a book by an Indigenous author. The box also includes crafts, art, jewelry, giftware and other products made solely by Indigenous artisans.

At her book club, McLaren made the connection to improve relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people through literature.

“Reading a story helps to better understand historical context. It also broadens perspectives and raises awareness,” says McLaren.

Raven Reads is McLaren’s contribution to reconciliation, by providing a safe space for dialogue and learning. She connects with publishers and authors for books that presents readers with a blend of captivating narratives and strong messages without being strident, she says.

She also explores children’s books that may not already be on the shelves or in the classrooms of parents and educators for the Raven Reads Jr. box, which includes two or three books for children ages 4-9.

“I believe in the importance of providing as many resources for educators and parents, so they can share appropriate content and stories with children in a safe space that encourages dialogue and is using materials coming directly from Indigenous writers and distributors,” McLaren says.

Giving back to the community is another positive contribution from Raven Reads. Their debut box from October 2017 included a book called Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga.

The non-fiction novel depicts the heart-rending story of the lives of seven Indigenous teens who died in Thunder Bay, Ont. Nicole describes how she sensed a strong connection to this story, which is why Raven Reads donated $1 of every box to the First Nation Caring Society.

The society works to improve the substantial gap in educational funding for Indigenous students.

McLaren is the winner of the 2018 Startup Canada Indigenous Entrepreneur Award and a champion for women rooted in rural areas like herself. She believes in presenting Indigenous women entrepreneurs with the right platforms that will cultivate opportunities to become more independent and explore different markets.

“I feel it’s important to be an advocate for women in rural areas,” says the award-winning business owner. “I think that there is a lot of opportunities for them, but they must be creative in their approach.”

Raven Reads subscribers come from across Canada, in almost every state in America, and they have recently started shipping to Europe. Their modest team of two contract workers, a few volunteers and McLaren, work steadily to ship around 500 boxes every three months.

Although most of her connections to Indigenous artisans sprout from a significant online and social media network, McLaren is always searching for more artists and businesses at the grassroots level.

For artisans or authors who are interested in contributing their work to Raven Reads, they can contact McLaren and send their information to nicole@ravenreads.org, or reach out on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at: Raven_Reads.