For all the advantages of having a multi-cultural society, tensions remain regarding the emphasis and weight one culture has over another.

Isabelle Chapadeau, a TikTok Indigenous accelerator is an example of how combined heritage can splinter an identity, if an effort is not made to preserve and reclaim the minority language and culture.

Living in Pangnirtung with her husband and son, the family made a conscious choice to move so their child would grow up surrounded by Inuit society. Chapadeau knows first hand what itSA国际影视传媒檚 like to have to reclaim your culture, as she spent her childhood with her French-Canadian father and his family in Quebec after her Inuit motherSA国际影视传媒檚 death when she was two years old.

In what she calls a SA国际影视传媒減rivilegedSA国际影视传媒� upbringing, Chapadeau felt sheltered from the realities of isolation and racism Inuit face when she lived in northeastern Quebec.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think we maybe talked about [the Inuit] once in school,SA国际影视传媒� she recalls. SA国际影视传媒淢y father never talked about it, and I never faced any challenges [about my heritage]SA国际影视传媒� when I was younger I had no clue. I never owned being Inuit or spoke Inuktitut. I was hiding my Inuit [side].SA国际影视传媒�

She describes herself as SA国际影视传媒渁lways wanting to communicateSA国际影视传媒� and being SA国际影视传媒渓oud in classSA国际影视传媒� with her heart close to social justice causes. As her Inuit heritage became more physically pronounced as she grew up, she began to communicate more with her motherSA国际影视传媒檚 relatives in Nunavut, and decided to first move to the territory when she was 19. It was then, says Chapadeau, that she began to encounter subtle discrimination.

Facing SA国际影视传媒渁 change in attitudeSA国际影视传媒�

Specifically, Chapadeau cites SA国际影视传媒渘ot being believedSA国际影视传媒� in the healthcare or insurance system on things like her own pregnancy.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey donSA国际影视传媒檛 trust my word,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 feel we always need to [advocate] for ourselves more than others, especially in work situations. If you look more English, you feel more welcome. You donSA国际影视传媒檛 have judgement.SA国际影视传媒�

She describes this judgement as not an overt challenge, but more an SA国际影视传媒渁ttitude change,SA国际影视传媒� particularly pronounced in the workplace. Chapadeau found she was questioning herself in these situations, and advocates for more support among Indigenous peoples, which she gained by travelling and meeting other Indigenous creators from different communities.

Some of these experiences can be viewed on her TikTok page, but she felt more respect and understanding from other Indigenous peoples. Chapadeau was inspired and empowered through these travels and experiences to continue to create and communicate through TikTok, as well as jewelry-making and sewing, all of which she cites as precious learning experiences.

SA国际影视传媒淚nuit tend to stay together, because travel is so difficult and expensive. I would recommend, if you can, having conversations with different nations that have similarities, but are different.SA国际影视传媒� For example, she has attended pow-wows, where she felt SA国际影视传媒渃onnected on so many things.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭ake a moment everyday to just relax and be thankful,SA国际影视传媒� she advises.

After a few years of living and working in the south, Chapadeau describes SA国际影视传媒渇eeling uncomfortable and detached.SA国际影视传媒� So she moved her family to Pangnirtung, where she is currently taking a break from social media and her platform to work at the local school and have another child.

Art and empowerment

SA国际影视传媒淵ou need to make more of an effort sometimes,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚t helped me to have many chats [with other Inuit people]SA国际影视传媒� you feel empowered, when you are surrounded by Elders and youth who want to learn.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen I started [doing] TikTok, it came from loneliness and lossSA国际影视传媒� It was the beginning, I had no clue [about my culture]. I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 see [many] Inuit on TikTok or any media platform. And I thought, SA国际影视传媒楳y culture is so beautiful.SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒�

Chapadeau also feels the platform gave her more freedom from judgement, and the ability to discuss tough issues like mental health, sometimes using the medium to explain her outlook to others as well as herself. SA国际影视传媒淚 feel I have so much more to learnSA国际影视传媒� I see the effects of residential school [on others], but I have a lot to learn [myself].SA国际影视传媒�

Working in an Inuit school where students speak Inuktitut, as well as a small community SA国际影视传媒渨here everybody helps each otherSA国际影视传媒� has certainly helped Chapadeau with her understanding of her own identity.

SA国际影视传媒淚 see a lot [travelling] by Ski-Doo. I have access to country food through my partnerSA国际影视传媒檚 grandparents who go hunting everyday. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 about community and the family vibe, a more traditional way [of life]. I felt stuck in a [southern] city. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 [about] being on the land SA国际影视传媒� itSA国际影视传媒檚 nicer, itSA国际影视传媒檚 close to nature.SA国际影视传媒�

While Chapadeau takes some personal time for herself and her family, her TikTok channel, @isapadeau, is still active, and she plans to return to creating.

SA国际影视传媒淚 love what I do, so ISA国际影视传媒檒l come back. Accelerator has really helped to serve the [Indigenous] experienceSA国际影视传媒� I know why ISA国际影视传媒檓 doing it now. ISA国际影视传媒檓 communicating with others and learning.SA国际影视传媒�

For those struggling at the moment, she urges them to seek out events and community groups, and make the effort to attend, communicate and connect with others.

SA国际影视传媒淭here is communitySA国际影视传媒� everywhere. YouSA国际影视传媒檒l see everywhere youSA国际影视传媒檙e not alone. We all have our own issuesSA国际影视传媒� but I think it is on us to [seek others out] and believe in ourselves. Long-term itSA国际影视传媒檚 good. The beginning is rough, but the ending is good. Learn to communicate and involve yourself. I have been to places where it was challengingSA国际影视传媒� but art really helped me to connect.SA国际影视传媒�