Shailla Winter Manitowabi is an indigenous woman. She is an Anishnaabe & Cree living in turtle island. She went missing as a teenager and was an MMIWG (missing/murdered indigenous women & girls). Since then she has spent a lot of time healing from her traumas and committing herself to spread awareness about MMIWG and Indigenous Rights. Shailla knew that she couldn't let her experience happen for nothing and uses her experience to help other indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA peoples. She knew that she couldn't stay silent about her trafficking experience when it happens everyday to many women, and especially since a lot of women are afraid to speak up about it out of fear for their safety or others . It was not an isolated incident and unfortunately indigenous women are targeted every day.

 

Shailla studied fashion techniques and design at George Brown college and she learnt how to bead and sew from indigenous elders . Her culture is what helped her to heal, Shailla wants to showcase indigenous beauty and empower indigenous people, and especially indigenous women.