When someone sits down with a cup of their coffee, Natasha Parrish (Sk鈥檌ng luudas) and Kear Porttris hope not only do they enjoy the aromatic flavours, but also feel inspired to build and explore their connection to Indigenous communities.

As just like coffee is ingrained in most people鈥檚 daily routines, the co-founders of Indigenous Roots Coffee Co., feel moments of truth and reconciliation can also be weaved into our lives.

A sentiment echoed in their slogan, 鈥楨veryday acts of reconciliation.鈥� 

鈥淲e envision people sitting down with our coffee, sharing stories, reading,鈥� says Porttris. 鈥淏ecause it really starts with the individual.鈥�

The couple both work in the field of Indigenous education; Parrish works at Camosun College as education developer for Indigenization, and Porttris works as a consultant, helping facilitate connections between large projects and Indigenous communities.

Using this experience and their own connections to their cultures 鈥� Porttris is M茅tis and Parrish is Haida 鈥� Indigenous Roots Coffee has been created as a gateway to learn more about truth and reconciliation.

鈥淲e were really seeing a lot of desire and need for more education out there for people,鈥� said Porttris. 鈥淧eople every day asking how they can learn more, what they can do or buy to help.鈥�

As well as raise awareness, the brand hopes to build community connections and celebrate Indigenous cultures through art and relationships. 

鈥淪ometimes the public doesn't get to see or hear what Indigenous Peoples are already doing,鈥� said Parrish.

With her Haida family involved in the coffee industry for over 30 years, Parrish says she hopes Indigenous Roots Coffee can be an extension of that history and experience.

鈥淲hen my family visit each other, we always have coffee 鈥� it鈥檚 just part of our culture, and I love that,鈥� she says. 鈥淐offee is a great way to just sit and talk with each other and share information 鈥� it鈥檚 bonding.鈥�

Four blends of coffee are available, each partnered with a different Indigenous grassroots initiative. The couple hope the partnerships will help shine a light on Indigenous excellence, innovation and courage.

鈥淔or me, it's coming alongside what people are already doing,鈥� says Parrish. 鈥淪o it's nothing new, we鈥檙e just highlighting it and bringing it forward so we can all learn more together.鈥�

鈥淣atasha and I are strong believers that the community does well, if everyone in the community is doing well and vice versa 鈥� our success is community success,鈥� adds Porttris.

Their Big House Blend coffee contributes to community and family gatherings, while their Canoe Connections blend supports the Geronimo Canoe Club in Brentwood Bay.

For Porttris, the initiative he feels a personal connection to is the Joyful Jiggers, a Metis dance group, which his 13-year-old daughter Abigail and her friend Piper belong to.

The initiative is paired with their Express Yourself Espresso blend.

鈥淭o have two teenagers motivated to share their knowledge of dance and help build that skill in the community is I think really special,鈥� he says.

It鈥檚 the work of the XAXE TENEW Sacred Land Society, supported by their Land Back blend, which Parrish admires most 鈥� both for the organization鈥檚 work to create a safe space for Indigenous women and two-spirited people in Saanich, and the coffee鈥檚 flavour.

鈥淚 think it's just so important we think about colonization and the effect that it's had on land,鈥� she says.

But the pair are not resting on their laurels, as their company grows they hope to expand their outreach and foster more community connections.

The packaging for each of the four coffee flavours blends the couple鈥檚 Metis and Haida cultures, with Metis floral beadwork and the Haida formline of Kaagan Jaad (Mouse Woman) adorned on each packet.

Each flavour also has its own logo, created by WSANEC artist Chazz Elliott (Temoseng), who crafted each design to reflect the feelings and energy of each coffee.

For the Express Yourself Espresso blend, Elliott has created a hummingbird design to reflect how people involved in arts and culture can express themselves.

鈥淎s the hummingbird can go whichever direction it wants,鈥� says Porttris.

According to Porttris, the artwork was developed before the coffee flavours, with the feelings generated by the art the influence for the blends.

鈥淚t was a really beautiful process,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he flavours of the coffee actually align with all the artwork.鈥�

The couple hopes the intricate artwork will encourage consumers to get curious about the different cultures represented.

鈥淎nd demonstrate the beauty of indigenous cultures,鈥� adds Parrish.

鈥淚 think just bringing that forward demonstrates that Indigenous Peoples have always been creators and they've always been innovators,鈥� she adds.

With a lack of 鈥榚veryday鈥� Indigenous products on the shelves of grocery stores, the couple say the coffee has been well received by all.

鈥淧eople have been really loving the connections, the opportunity to connect with community and for Indigenous Peoples, I've been noticing a lot of pride 鈥� they鈥檙e drawn to it,鈥� said Parrish.

鈥淭hey just are very proud of the Indigenous Peoples involved 鈥� artists, land back initiatives, community members that are canoeing or jigging. There's a real sense of pride.鈥�

For more information about Indigenous Roots Coffee Co., which can be ordered online, visit the website: .