Sidney
“I am my ancestors’ wildest dreams who has grown to become unapologetically Māori.”
Sidney was born and raised in Aotearoa, connected to her Māoritanga (Māori culture). When she and her whānau moved across the globe to Canada, Sidney found herself navigating adolescence in a new land, distant from her culture, desperate to fit in. It took a few years, and finding her way to people who were connected to their roots, to inspire her to reconnect with hers. Now Sidney is on a journey as a proud wāhine Māori, determined to advance the dialogue on Indigenous reconciliation through her activism and entrepreneurship. As co-founder of Nga Ihi o Nehua, Sidney, alongside her sister and māmā, are working to showcase and celebrate the cultural diversity of both Māori and Nehiyawak (Cree) cultures. Sidney is a fearless and creative trailblazer, passionate about creating space for Indigenous voices and fighting for a more inclusive future. Meet Sidney. This is her story.
P: Please introduce yourself!
S: Kia Ora, Ko Sidney Nehua-Jackson tōku ingoa, he uri au nō Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Kahungunu me Ngāti Whatua. I am a 16 year old Model, Land Defender and Entrepreneur based in Amiskwacîwâskahikan.
P: Describe or define yourself in your own words.
S: I am my ancestors' wildest dreams who has grown to become unapologetically Māori.
P: What's your favourite thing about yourself?
S: My favorite thing about myself is how willing I am to learn new things. Whether it's a new culture or activity, I will approach it with an open mind and pure intentions.
P: Tell us a story. Have you had an experience that’s defined you or made you stronger?
S: Back in Aotearoa I was raised with Tikanga Māori and I am thankful I had the opportunity to attend a Kura Kaupapa Māori (Ritimana) up until I was 10 and everything from Math to Sports were taught in Te reo.
In 2015 my Māmā, Sister and I decided to Move to “Canada” and that was a big culture shock for me as I started to attend a school taught in English and was no longer surrounded by any Rangatahi Māori, because of that I became ashamed of my Māoritanga and chose to no longer embrace or even acknowledge I was Māori in order to “Fit in”.
This lead to loss of knowledge, language, Tikanga Māori and my own self identity.
Throughout grade 5-9 I was confused, insecure and lost in who I was and it's crazy because looking back at pictures of me from Junior High I can see the mamae and sadness in those moments.
It wasn't until I reached Grade 10 that I truly started to reclaim who I was and that was because I started to surround myself with people who were proud of their roots and expressed it in many different forms like Dance, Fashion and Art, seeing that really inspired my whānau and I to do the same. With many days of planning and conversations we then created our own business Nga Ihi o Nehua combining both Māori and Nehiyawak cultures as my Māmā had married a Cree/Mohawk man from Alexander First Nations. As we grew we had the honor to showcase our designs and perform at events like Western Canada Fashion Week, Indigenous Women's business panels, Indigenous Days, Heritage Days and more.
I will forever be thankful to the people who have shown me endless support throughout my journey of reconnecting and reclaiming my Māoritanga.
P: What is one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?
S: Stay true to who you are and everything else will fall into place.
I'd also gently remind her that Whakapapa is enough. Just because you don't speak Te Reo, know much Tikanga Māori and/or do Kapa haka etc, it doesn't make her any less of a Māori than someone who does and that her tūpuna will always have her back through thick & thin.
P: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say if they were here now?
S: My pumama (Deidre Nehua)
Throughout my life I’ve always had her as my backbone reminding me of my worth.
I thank her for her sacrifices she's made to allow my siblings and I to live a beautiful life and let her know that the things she does never go unnoticed by me. I'm so incredibly proud of her and she's truly the strongest Wahine I've ever met.
I love you to Matariki and back Pumama <3