A local Indigenous designer has found her spotlight on Tik Tok.

Crystal Harrison Collin is an Indigenous woman from Sioux Lookout who has amassed an impressive 11,700 followers and 280,000 likes on her Tik Tok page.

Harrison Collin enjoys posting a bit of everything from light comedy skits to more serious discussions on topics like truth and reconciliation.

Recently, Harrison Collin, along with 29 other Indigenous creators, was selected to participate in the Tik Tok Accelerator for Indigenous Creators program hosted by Tik Tok Canada and the Nation Screen Institute.

The program aims to help selected creators gain skills such as filmmaking, social media growth, and social media career management.

When asked how she found out about the program, she replied, “I’m Sherry McKay and she’s on the faculty. I saw her video and she mentioned this accelerator program for native creators and decided to check it out and thought it would be a great opportunity to find out more.

Harrison Collin was asked if she thinks Tik Tok is a useful social media platform for people to learn about Indigenous issues, she said, “I think so. There are many Indigenous content creators who share their knowledge of historical events like for example the Indian Act, Treaties, Indian Residential School system, as well as Indian Residential School system in the United States.

“There have been times when cultural appropriation has been exposed, and that (Tik Tok) helps educate people who appropriate our culture,” she continued.

As social media becomes a more realistic career path for many people, some have found ways to make a living from their Tik Tok platforms.

Harrison Collin was asked if she had any idea of ​​the direction she wanted to take with her platform after the show, which is what she had to say “At the moment I don’t know which direction I am going to take. would like to take. ”

“I think by being in this program, learning to navigate the app and learning new skills and techniques, learning from peers and teachers, [maybe] it will help paint the picture more clearly, ”she continued.

“Right now it’s more of a hobby for me. It’s something that I love in my spare time, something that I love to do with my teenagers. I haven’t considered making a career with my platform, but it’s definitely something I’d like to learn more about during the Accelerator program, ”she concluded.

The program will begin today, November 8, 2021, and will be led by a talented faculty, including Sherry McKay, a Tik Toker from Winnipeg, as well as many other industry professionals.

During the program, attendees will also be able to listen to top Canadian Tik Tok names such as Celina Meyers, Brett Mooswa and Fawn Wood, to name a few.

You can find out more about the program by watching the full Kenora Online interview below: