Today, we're connecting with Patrice Mousseau of Satya Organics - an organic & Indigenous-owned skincare line and fellow SheEO Venture. When Patrice Mousseau's daughter started having eczema issues, she took to her kitchen, in particular her crock pot, and created an all natural and steroid-free balm to nourish the skin. Satya was born! 

WHAT FOOD OR RECIPE PROVIDES YOU WITH A SENSE OF NOSTALGIA?

One particular food that provides me with a great sense of nostalgia is a comfort meal that I had a lot of growing up in the North — macaroni with canned tomatoes, Klik (canned meat similar to Spam), and melted Kraft Singles on top. A Native-style mac and cheese. Definitely not the healthiest meal, but it was something that I loved eating. My dad loved Klik. He grew up in a family of 10 kids and that’s all he could afford. My mom would make it for us all the time and we all loved it.

WHAT DOES KEEP FOOD ALIVE MEAN TO YOU?

To me, Keep Food Alive means to connect with the food that you’re putting in your body. Not only making your food last longer, but finding sustainable ways to save the rich nutrients that fuel our bodies. You’re not only wrapping up ingredients or leftovers — you’re preserving the spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical goodness that food contributes to your overall well-being.

WHAT INDIGENOUS VALUES TO YOU INCORPORATE INTO RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS? 

When Indigenous people start businesses, the first thing they think about isn’t necessarily whether or not they can afford it or how much money will they make — it’s usually ‘how can I create and support my community?’

At Satya, we’re building our own internal community. We’re a family. No one person is more important than the next. Unlike in traditional Western business structures, there is no hierarchy — we sit at the table together. Everyone in the company is valued and respected the same, and everyone is allowed to be vulnerable. We build each other up and allow everyone the opportunity to be heard.

WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW ABOUT INDIGENOUS FOOD & CULTURE? 

I’m not the best cook or resource when it comes to Indigenous food, but it's interesting how my kitchen crockpot has become the basis for so much. I didn’t necessarily cook a lot of food in there, but I did create something out of traditional Indigenous medicine that has become a clean and effective remedy for so many who are suffering with chronic skin conditions. That’s pretty cool.

Aside from the Klik and macaroni, there’s a lot of really incredible Indigenous food out there. I highly suggest supporting your local Indigenous-run eateries to experience some really great authentic dishes for yourself. The fry bread taco, a food I grew accustomed to from the Mohawk community in Southern Ontario, is one of my favourite dishes. Fry bread has a complex origin for Indigenous people but we’re here to reclaim it. I believe it’s a representation of the resilience and ingenuity of our people. You can enjoy it in a savory dish or top it off with strawberries, whipped cream and icing sugar for an amazing dessert!

AT YOUR ULTIMATE DINNER PARTY, WHO WOULD YOU INVITE AND WHAT WOULD YOU SERVE? 

At my ultimate dinner party, I would simply invite the people I love — all my friends and community. God, do I have to cook? Haha! I have incredible relationships with a very diverse group of people, so I would maybe ask everyone to bring a dish that they love. One that also represents a part of their own cultural heritage. A nice potluck!

VISIT SATYA ORGANICS TO EXPLORE PATRICE'S ALL NATURAL & LUXURIOUS SKIN CARE 

Do you know someone who would be a great Kindred Kitchen feature? Drop us a line at hello@abeego.com!  

It is with deep respect and gratitude that we create, build and operate our business in the communities of Southern Vancouver Island, which as a business we acknowledge is located within the ancestral and unceded territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) (Esquimalt and Songhees), Malahat, Pacheedaht, Scia'new, T’Sou-ke and W̱SÁNEĆ (Pauquachin, Tsartlip, Tsawout, Tseycum) peoples.