Indigenous online platform seeking Cultural Champions and Cultural Allies
By Sam Laskaris
HENVEY INLET FIRST NATION – Now that his latest venture is taking off, Chad Solomon can start focusing on another aspect of Biskane.
Solomon, a Henvey Inlet First Nation member, launched Biskane, an online platform which connects retailers and customers to authentic Indigenous work, this past November. Indigenous experiences are also offered via the platform.
Almost 100 artisans and stores have registered with the platform thus far. Solomon is now making a push to recruit both Cultural Champions and Cultural Allies for Biskane’s referral program.
“What we’re trying to do is get a broader reach for those artisans to get their products out,” Solomon said.
Both the Cultural Champions, individuals or groups who are Indigenous, and the non-Indigenous Cultural Allies, have the opportunity to earn a percentage of the sales for those that they are able to connect.
The Champions and Allies promote the authenticated Indigenous artists on their own social platforms or whatever other means they choose. They are then rewarded with a percentage of each successful sale.
Anishinabek News is supporting Solomon by writing stories on Biskane and promoting his website and the 2023 Great Lakes Pow-Wow Guide will feature a Biskane ad for additional reach.
“It’s very, very early,” Solomon said of Biskane’s referral program, which was officially introduced in late January. “But I’m expecting there will be a lot of interested people who will want to be involved.”
Solomon said there are varying reasons for those interested in becoming Cultural Champions or Cultural Allies.
“The organizations are interested in helping Indigenous artisans connect with the organization’s base,” he said, adding others are keen to make some extra money themselves. “We’ve opened it up for both the organizational level and the personal level.”
Solomon started Biskane because he noticed there was a significant problem with the authenticity of Indigenous art. He was troubled by those who were selling and buying Indigenous works that were not authenticated.
Solomon would often hear of how patents of Indigenous artists were stolen and their works were reproduced, including in overseas locations. That unauthentic art would then be sold to unsuspecting buyers.
Biskane’s referral program is open to everybody. Information is available online.
Cultural Champions will earn a seven per cent commission for sales they make up to $20,000. They will start getting a 15 per cent commission if their sales figures surpass $50,000.
Cultural Allies will start at a five per cent commission and can also earn a 15 per cent cut if they reach the $50,000 sales figure.
Solomon is confident Biskane and its referral program will continue to gather interest. About 80 per cent of the artisans who have joined the platform are from Ontario; artisans from Alberta, Quebec, and New Brunswick have also signed up.
“We are beginning to make some inroads across the country,” Solomon said, adding he expects artisans from other parts of Canada to register with Biskane soon.