You wanna know how you get 16 years in? I was new in business. I had no "following" of any sort, but still I showed up, every single day, to shoot these videos. This one was originally shared on YouTube on December 30, 2029 when I was all of THREE MONTHS in business. It is not polished nor perfect. I knew NOTHING about lighting or editing but I knew how to help people. And authentic honesty builds you a following. START TODAY! Enjoy! https://youtu.be/tJBKgypwnsc

Next week, 2 days of travel, 3 days of seminar. The topic - Creating a Healthy Work Environment. The agenda - Day One - The Person (ensuring all realize how much they have to offer). Day Two - The Team (learning to work together). Day Three - Conflict Resolution. The audience - the staff of an Indigenous Women's Shelter for Abused Women. I love my work but my work is not easy. It is often challenging to reach the most disempowered, the most marginalized, the most abused. But I can, because once upon a time ... I was in that shelter. The journey continues. Never forget - it happened FOR you, not to you. USE what you need. There are people who so need it. Miigwetch/Thank you Sandi

Sporadically (up until now), I have done podcast type interviews with people whose story I believe will resonate with Canadians interested in working with Indigenous peoples or with Indigenous peoples themselves. For example, I have interviewed: - Millie Gormely, my financial planner who NEVER made me feel shame about my impoverished background. - Julia Gibson, an American woman I co-wrote (or rewrote) a book with because the original version received backlash from the Indigenous community. BTW, Julia and I are doing a public Zoom session today to talk about our journey together. Link in the comments if you want to join. - Coming soon Jody Loos, a man who runs a dry bar here in the city I live in (for those who wish to be sober but still come out and enjoy music, karaoke, friendship or dancing) - And I have plans for some other peeps as well. So, would you like to be one of those peeps? Do you have a product, service, workshop, etc. that could either help non-Indigenous people understand marginalized people or one that empowers the marginalized? Not sure? Let's schedule a chat if you do. My goal going forward is to release one interview per month to my 2,250 YouTube subscribers and my 4,000+ LinkedIn followers. Let's do this! Here’s my Calendly link. Feel free to book a time to chat. https://calendly.com/sandiboucher/intro-chat

The stereotypes about Indigenous people (like any other) are so wrong, minimizing just how amazing these communities are to those they love. I saw it as a child when storekeepers minimized and disregarded my Mom, never realizing how amazing she was. And I see it now, as a business owner, with my clients. Case in point - the process of payment. Anyone who has worked with large corporations knows they have their systems. Payments require proper forms and proper signatures. Payments can be prompt or take months. It is the dance. But next week, I have the honour and privilege of working with a First Nation/Indigenous entity. The invoice near $10,000 and yesterday they called to ask if I wanted the cheque deposited into my account (rather than them mailing it or waiting until I got there). Are you ready for this? THEY WERE WILLING TO DRIVE 45 MINUTES TO THE NEAREST BRANCH OF MY BANK TO DO IT. And they did. And that is why I am shaking my head at every person that disregards Indigenous peoples IN MODERN DAY as uncivilized or primitive, largely or probably because of their housing or lack of fancy clothing or whatever. But to them, it has never been about material wealth. To Indigenous, it has always been and will always be about relationships and I love when the Indigenous I get to work with remind me just how amazing they are. How amazing we are, just the way we are. The journey continues. Feel free to take the time to unpack your assumptions and stereotypes about any other group. They may not have what you crave or have but maybe, just maybe, its because they don't care to. I love you! HUGSSSSSSS Sandi

After manning this ship for the longest time on my own (with a team of staff, freelancers, or a combo of both), 2025 is proving to be my year of partnering. As posted yesterday, soon I will be promoting the work of others for the benefit of those I serve through monthly interviews featured on my YouTube channel and on LinkedIn. Further, I recently partnered with a powerhouse executive and soon I will be joining her Mastermind network as the lead for not one but TWO mastermind groups for Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs, one for established businesses and one for new entrepreneurs. And that is just the beginning. Today, besides the amazing Inspiring Talks session, I have not one but two chats with businesses looking to expand into Indigenous markets and it just keeps going and going. So my advice ... don't try to do it alone and do not ever lock yourself into thinking that the only way you can get someone to help you is to pay. Give them what they need (support, encouragement, exposure for an amazing product or service) and watch how fast you get what you were looking for as well. It's gonna be a great day ... even if yesterday a mini tornado took out my back fence and squished my purty flowers. 🫣 Enjoy the day! Watch for storms! lol