Mountain Life
  • Daily Content
    • Trips & Expeditions
    • Climbing
    • Mountain Biking
    • Mountain Lifer
    • Multiplicity
    • On The Trail
    • Paddling
    • Photography
    • Skiing
    • Snowboarding
    • Stay & Play
    • Surfing
    • The Great Outdoors
    • The ML Interview
    • Travel
  • GEAR
  • VIDEOS
  • STORE
  • Magazines
    • ML Coast Mountains
    • ML Rocky Mountains
    • Vie En Montagne
    • ML Blue Mountains
    • ML Annual
    • ML Subscriptions
  • ABOUT
    • What is ML?
    • Our Team
    • Newsletter
    • Adventure Grant
    • Distribution
  • Podcast
  • Contests
  • CONTACT
    • ML Agency
    • Advertising
    • Contribute
Subscription Form

Get notified of the best News

Social Links
Instagram 22K Followers
Facebook 25K Likes
Twitter 5K Followers
Pinterest 1K Followers
Vimeo 34 Followers
LinkedIn 0
22K Followers
25K Likes
5K Followers
1K Followers
Mountain Life
Mountain Life
  • Daily Content
    • Trips & Expeditions
    • Climbing
    • Mountain Biking
    • Mountain Lifer
    • Multiplicity
    • On The Trail
    • Paddling
    • Photography
    • Skiing
    • Snowboarding
    • Stay & Play
    • Surfing
    • The Great Outdoors
    • The ML Interview
    • Travel
  • GEAR
  • VIDEOS
  • STORE
  • Magazines
    • ML Coast Mountains
    • ML Rocky Mountains
    • Vie En Montagne
    • ML Blue Mountains
    • ML Annual
    • ML Subscriptions
  • ABOUT
    • What is ML?
    • Our Team
    • Newsletter
    • Adventure Grant
    • Distribution
  • Podcast
  • Contests
  • CONTACT
    • ML Agency
    • Advertising
    • Contribute
  • Ambassadors
  • Mountain Lifer
  • Rockies

Inuk Warrior Princess: Marika Sila

  • June 14, 2022
  • Mountain Life Media
Total
1
Shares
1
0
0
0
0
0
Total
1
Shares
Share 1
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
Share 0
Share 0

Indigenous in Alberta, with Inuk actor and influencer Marika Sila. Words :: Danielle Paradis.

Marika Sila remembers school as one of the first places she really began to think of her Inuit heritage. Growing up in the predominantly Caucasian small town of Canmore, Alberta, she noticed she was different than the other kids and recalls experiencing bullying and segregation. Now a full-time influencer and actress in film and television, Marika attributes much of her success to how she navigated those early years.

Rachel Barkman photographer Marika Sila Inuk Summer
photo: RACHEL BARKMAN

“Going through what I went through in my younger years primed me to be who I am today. As a performer, you cannot focus on what other people think of you and still show up authentically. I am blessed to have a deeply rooted confidence…it has freed me from caring about what people think and has shown me that love always wins.”

Marika’s family is originally from Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories, and she spent her early childhood in Yellowknife with her parents, Angus Cockney and Trish Bartley, and brother, Jesse Cockney. She currently lives in Canmore, and can be found on TikTok and Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Marika Sila (@marikasila)

As a social media influencer, she showcases beautiful Inuit and Indigenous fashion, promotes Indigenous businesses, answers questions on how Canadians can support the Indigenous community, discusses Indigenous rights issues and demonstrates her incredible athletic abilities with hoops, martial arts (nunchucks!), and fire dancing to her half a million followers.

As half-Inuk and half-Caucasian, Marika feels a responsibility to bridge the gap of understanding between Indigenous and nonIndigenous people. She is passionate about reconciliation and elevating the voices and perspectives of the Indigenous peoples across Canada.

Marika Sila Inuk Summer
photo: courtesy marika SILA

“My goal is to create a deeper understanding amongst our nation, because I believe that where there is understanding there is compassion, and racism dies in the face of compassion,” she says.

This belief can be seen throughout her work as an influencer and actress. Among her many projects, Marika is a motivational speaker and currently working on a documentary about Canada’s modern-day Indigenous affairs. Marika credits her parents for teaching her everything she knows about her culture. Her father was placed in residential school for 13 years, so the recent news about the Indian residential school system really hit home for her.


ML-podcast-Listen-Now

“Reconnecting is one of my top priorities,” says Marika. “I believe that bringing back ceremony is an important aspect to healing within the Indigenous community.”

Marika loves to teach her followers about her Inuit heritage and uses her platform to explain concepts like Land Back and Cancel Canada Day to her audience.

“I am passionate about explaining Indigenous rights issues to non-Indigenous people because I like to think that once someone understands they are more likely to support. And, it is so important to have non-Indigenous allies.”

“I get so much support nowadays, it still surprises me because I was so used to being bullied growing up,” Marika says. On her platform, Marika deals with hateful and racist messages with compassion. One post has Shawn Mendes’ “It’ll Be Okay” playing while Marika looks at messages she has received and responds by singing along with Mendes: “Imma love you either way.”


Marika highlights five ways non-Indigenous people can support the Indigenous community:

›Share Indigenous-created content and elevate Indigenous voices.

›Show up to Indigenous-led protests.

›Donate to Indigenous-led fundraisers and non-profit foundations.

›Educate yourself! There are many resources out there like this free course from Indigenous Canada.

›Support Indigenous-owned businesses.


Marika’s goal has always been to build a platform with her talents to raise awareness about the importance of Indigenous rights and climate issues. She also works to promote other Indigenous artists as the owner of the RedPath Talent, an emerging Indigenous talent agency and production company.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by RedPath (@redpathtalent)

This summer she will be producing, directing, and hosting her first documentary, traveling across Canada to interview Indigenous influencers, elders, and community leaders about their thoughts on reconciliation. Production will begin on July 1, a day steeped in symbolism and the focal point of the Idle No More #cancelcanadaday movement.

“A lot of Canadians don’t understand the concept behind Cancel Canada Day,” Marika says. Within Indigenous communities when there is a loss—the present case being the ongoing discoveries of thousands of unmarked graves on residential school grounds across the country—it is common to cancel celebrations around events like Canada Day in order to take the time to come together as a community and to support one another. She explains that cancelling Canada Day is meant to generate a pause, to honour the Indigenous community in this time, and to take time to reflect upon Canada’s colonial history and the systems that got us here and continue to cause harm. It’s a fitting time to launch work on her project which is based on finding positive ways in which Canadians can contribute to reconciliation, so we can move forward towards unity.

Danielle Paradis is an Indigenous writer, editor and educator living in Edmonton.

New Issue Drop: ML Rocky Mountains Summer ’22
Total
1
Shares
Share 1
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
Share 0
Share 0
Related Topics
  • First Nations
  • Indigenous
  • Inuk
  • Land Back
Mountain Life Media

Previous Article
Alija-Bos-solar-Eclipse-Ontario-Kingston-Mountain-Life-SUP-feature-crop
  • SPRING GEAR
  • SUMMER GEAR
  • THE GEAR SHED

Gear Shed: Summer SUP Roundup

  • June 13, 2022
  • Ned Morgan
View Post
Next Article
Great-Lakes-SUP-paddlers-islands-drone-Scott-Parent
  • Paddling
  • Trips & Expeditions

Voyage to the Windswept Islands

  • June 15, 2022
  • Mountain Life Media
View Post
You May Also Like
Paul-Manning-Hunter-Kananaskis-River-surf
View Post
  • Photography
  • Rockies

Behind the Photo: Rockies Edition

  • Mountain Life Media
  • January 19, 2023
knorthphotography.Beverly-Glenn Copeland-crop
View Post
  • Mountain Lifer

Beverly Glenn-Copeland: Finding the Universal Broadcast

  • Mountain Life Media
  • January 17, 2023
Marie-France-Roy-at-Icefall-Range
View Post
  • Rockies
  • Skiing
  • Trips & Expeditions

The Wild West

  • Mountain Life Media
  • January 10, 2023
Talon-Pascal-lilWat-feature-crop
View Post
  • Mountain Lifer

Talon Pascal, Culture Keeper

  • Mountain Life Media
  • January 9, 2023
M-Fredriksson-Christina-Lusti-2
View Post
  • Mountain Lifer
  • Skiing
  • Women

Christina “Lusti” Lustenberger: Killing It Softly

  • Mountain Life Media
  • January 3, 2023
View Post
  • Mountain Lifer
  • Skiing
  • Videos

Friday Flick: Santa Rips

  • Sarah Bulford
  • December 23, 2022
View Post
  • Mountain Lifer
  • Skiing
  • Snowboarding

Arc’teryx Backcountry Academy is coming to Whistler B.C.

  • Sarah Bulford
  • December 20, 2022
Ricky-Lewon-ski-racer
View Post
  • Mountain Lifer
  • Skiing

Ricky Lewon and the Need for Speed

  • Mountain Life Media
  • December 9, 2022
Featured Posts
  • Norco-Bigfoot2-fat-bike-winter-ride-MTB 1
    Gear Shed: Midwinter Picks
    • February 7, 2023
  • Skeena-Cat-Skiing-Northern-BC 2
    We Were Here
    • February 6, 2023
  • Mountain-Life-Coast-Mountains-Winter-2023 3
    ML Coast Mountains Winter-Spring ’23 Issue Out Now
    • February 3, 2023
  • Saint-Lawrence-ice-canoe-Jean-Anderson 4
    Jean Anderson: 40 Years of Ice Canoeing
    • January 31, 2023
  • CHOK-Images-RAB-Avril-2022 5
    Chic-Chocs: True Eastern Alpine
    • February 2, 2023
RECENT POSTS
  • Life-Time-Grand-Prix-gravel-bike
    New Docuseries Profiles the World’s Elite Off-Road Cyclists
    • January 30, 2023
  • L'Hymne-des-Trembles-Laurentians-Quebec
    L’Hymne des Trembles: Uncompromising Laurentian Skiing
    • January 27, 2023
  • Fjallraven-Nuuk-Parka-daniel-blom-photo_jacket
    Gear Shed: Multisport Winter Roundup
    • January 26, 2023
Social Links
Instagram 22K Followers
Facebook 25K Likes
Twitter 5K Followers
Pinterest 1K Followers
Vimeo 34 Followers
LinkedIn 0
INSTAGRAM
mountainlifemedia
22K Followers
There is a trend—mostly with tourism organizations and marketing departments, but travel journalists have been on board for a while now too… and the trend is to use the phrase “untouched wilderness” when writing about remote areas like the Skeena Mountains of northern B.C.
Help us wish ML Publisher @glenedwardharris a very happy, pow filled birthday! #mountainlifer
Live It Up EP 22 is OUT NOW!
NEW ML Coast Mountains Winter-Spring ’23 Issue is OUT NOW! 🙌
There are some first times that we will always remember. Like the time I skied off-piste through the alpine highlands of le parc national de la Gaspésie.
@shimizuimg getting those January goods ❄️ #mountainlifer
With four decades of ice canoeing under his belt, Jean Anderson has dominated a sport that's unique to Quebec and that he helped shape.
Featuring three gravel and three MTB events, the series explores the intense competition and love of the sport among 60 of the world’s premier cyclists.
Winter commute with #mountainlifer @michelle_pittam ❄️🚵‍♀️🌲
@lhymnedestrembles.ca is no mirage. Set in the lush Laurentian forest, yet easily accessible (less than an hour and a half from Montreal), this luxurious ski-in ski-out residential resort by @groupebrivia is nestled at the foot of the Versant Soleil side of Mont Tremblant. The Tremblant region is a perennial destination for outdoor enthusiasts from around the world, and within the province, attracting 3.5 million visitors annually.
Follow

Subscribe

Subscribe now to our newsletter

There is a trend—mostly with tourism organizations and marketing departments, but travel journalists have been on board for a while now too… and the trend is to use the phrase “untouched wilderness” when writing about remote areas like the Skeena Mountains of northern B.C.
Help us wish ML Publisher @glenedwardharris a very happy, pow filled birthday! #mountainlifer
Live It Up EP 22 is OUT NOW!
NEW ML Coast Mountains Winter-Spring ’23 Issue is OUT NOW! 🙌
There are some first times that we will always remember. Like the time I skied off-piste through the alpine highlands of le parc national de la Gaspésie.
@shimizuimg getting those January goods ❄️ #mountainlifer
Mountain Life
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising

Input your search keywords and press Enter.