Instagram story viewer> @siilaflaherty> Tagged

Sheila Flaherty

@siilaflaherty

1.9K

followers

630

following

Chef / Founder @sijjakkut
📍 Iqaluit, Nunavut

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

A couple of months ago, I was on Firth River surrounded by Vadzaih/Caribou, and my whole body, mind and spirit felt them. My heart was so happy, I remember I keep on thinking, Our way of life still continues, haii Kugwhaathut/creator! It felt like I was surrounded by family, by our peoples, and by the future!!!!!! Those kinda experiences make life so much more beautiful! I’ll remember those feelings forever the rest of my life.
A couple of weeks ago, here in Whitehorse, I attended @empoweringinnovationspirit gathering hosted @entreprenorth ! Recently, I feel like I been hardly going to events or anything to much, so I was kinda nervous and shy to go around there! As always, I went anyways! It felt so good to be in the space, listening to all the goot conversations, attending the workshops, seeing friends and meeting new ones, eating goot food, and hearing all the laughs and stories….
My heart felt so warm n empowering, and I remembered, I had the same feeling being surrounded by hundreds of Vadzaih. While I was listening to the speakers, watching our people move, and interact with each other, I thought, “Our Way of life still continues!!! “

We come from such strong people, and together, we’re stronger.
Mussi choo @entreprenorth for the invite, and also letting me share the Pretty Frickn Deadly Trailer, and share a part of who I am. lol “of course me, ended up on stage!” I could hear my friend Jacklyn say.

I thought of my dad, who would have thought I’d premiering a film trailer about part of my life; 7 years to the day he dad passed away! Ps. Looking for a winter side gig!!! Thanks for reading

59

10

@entreprenorth @empoweringinnovationspirit conference brought together Indigenous entrepreneurs from Alaska, across the Canadian Arctic, Greenland, Iceland and Sápmi in Sweden.

During the Alumni panel, I shared that I had almost cancelled my trip. I am carrying a lot with sijjakkut — setbacks, difficult decisions and challenges that, at times, have felt insurmountable.

But sijjakkut is my baby. I have nurtured it, protected it, believed in it and poured so much of myself into it. I will keep nurturing it and pursuing every avenue until those avenues show me, once and for all, what is possible. What will come, will come.

And then I got to Whitehorse.

My eN cohort sister Terri-Lee of @tutchonetours was there for me from the moment she picked me up at the airport. Seven years after going through eN's growth program together with Bobbi Rose, she reminded me just how solid those relationships can be. I also got to squeeze Joella, owner of The Yukon Soaps Company — what she has built is inspiring to witness.

I met my first cousin's daughter Miranda, who lives in Whitehorse. I made new connections too — including one with a young entrepreneur who introduced herself on our last day and with whom I connected immediately.

Throughout the conference, people came up to tell me that what I shared on the panel resonated with them. I was humbled by that.

And I came away even more certain of something else: an Indigenous approach to entrepreneurship isn't just important — it is necessary.

We can navigate business in ways that are aligned with Indigenous ways of knowing and being. We can build relationships before transactions, value reciprocity, trust our knowledge, stay grounded in who we are, and still build strong and viable businesses.

We don't have to leave our ways at the door to succeed in business.

Old relationships were strengthened, new ones began, and I have renewed energy to keep nurturing this little business I love so much.

Quyanainni, EntrepreNorth. 💜

#sijjakkut #EntrepreNorth #EmpoweringInnovationSpirit #IndigenousEntrepreneurship #InuitEntrepreneurship

37

3

Iqaluit is unlike anywhere I’ve ever been in this country. Beautiful and vast and hard and filled with some of the warmest people. Thanks for the kindest of welcomes, and for sharing your stories about what life in the North is really like.

814

7

Thx to @destinationnunavut for this REPOST of my hike along the trail from Iqaluit to Apex during my visit to Nunavut in 2023 😊 I loved the people and place and hope to return to go even farther north. Maybe with the amazing @siilaflaherty 🥰
__
The small but mighty community of Apex is scattered with rugged coastal cliffs and framed by the Hudson Strait’s icy waters.
With so many exciting opportunities for travellers, Apex is just one of many beautiful and inspiring communities Nunavut is home to. Make sure you don’t miss it on your next Northern adventure.
📸 : @savouritall
📍 Apex, Iqaluit

23

2

✨ This Day in 2022 ✨

I was honoured to be invited as one of three panelists for Harbourfront Centre's "The Future of Sustainable Gastronomy" panel -- part of their Nordic Talks and Nordic Bridges program, funded by The Council Of Nordic Ministers.

Who else was on the Panel was Åland Chef Viktor Eriksson, and Toronto Chef Laura Maxwell with Paul Taylor, a Canadian food security & anti-racism activist and former executive director of Food Share Toronto as the Moderator.

My son Joshua and husband Johnny accompanied me on the trip and one evening we dined at @antlerkitchenbar. We met @thehunterchef in real life, which was super, after a long while of communicating and following each other on insta.

Also super cool was seeing @vikeriksson once again! I think it was his first trip to Canada if I recall correctly. We met while collaborating as Chefs in Nuuk in 2019. My next post will be about that special time.

#inuit #inuujunga #collaboration

10

0

I am terribly excited we have been invited to the Sami Parliament's first ever food conference, Máistu happening in Alta, Norway on May 14th.

For more information on the program you can visit Máistu's Facebook page.

Sheila Flaherty is the chef and founder of Sijjakkut. She has been the Chef for numerous notable events including for the national Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami annual event three times and has also been a resident chef at the National Arts Centre. She also participated in a New Arctic Kitchen event in Nuuk, Greenland. The event in Nuuk brought together food professionals from across the Arctic to share knowledge and methods, and shape the kitchens of the future.

Sheila recently received King Charles III Coronation Medal for her work as a cultural educator, preserving and promoting Inuit culture through food, including the creation of sijjakkut that showcases Inuit cuisine across Canada and internationally. She also serves on the board of directors for Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada and Travel Nunavut. Sheila is the proud mother of her 29 year old son Joshua and the wife of Johnny Flaherty. Johnny was born in Ausuittuq (Grise Fiord), Canada’s northernmost community.

He is the youngest of nine children and his parents were part of the High Arctic relocation in the 1950s. Johnny speaks and writes both Inuktitut and English and learned early on to hunt and survive in the Arctic. Johnny and Sheila own Sijjakkut together and will talk about how they have adapted to modern times, while working to preserve traditional methods, through the lecture “Arctic Flavours: Inuit Cuisine Adapting to Modernity”.

#inuit #inuitcuisine #inuitculture

70

7

Qujannamiik Sheila Flaherty for these nium iqaluk rolls! Sheila is a local Inuk chef who makes delicious food. It’s always special when we have the opportunity to eat country food together as Nunavummiut and support local businesses.

If elected, my priorities are to continue to fight for Inuit, Nunavummiut, and our beautiful nuna. As CEO of NTI, this has already been what I’ve been doing and hope to continue doing so if elected by the people of Nunavut. Qujannamiik for your support!

@siilaflaherty

#NunavutStrong #April28 #YourVoiceMatters #YourVoteMatters

14

1

I’m thrilled to have been a part of the team that brought together this very special @foodandwine magazine issue- At Canada’s Table!
@gailsimmonseats was special guest editor on the project along with some of my fave Canadian writers & creators like @paychen @ivyporkchopknight Lola Augustine Brown & @amyrrosen.
This is an incredible food country & I was honoured to write a piece-“How Wild-Berry Foraging Connects Canada’s First Nations People to the Land” I want to deeply thank Brenda Holder @siilaflaherty & @chefstephanelevac for taking the time to share their knowledge, stories & experience with me; you’re all amazing!
Big thanks to my editor @tracey_minkin for guiding me; truly wonderful!
And last but not least, huge love to @lizsperandeo for mobilizing this gorgeous compilation of community, storytelling & cuisine!
#foodandwine #canadianfoodwriter #canadasfoodisland #pei #explorecanada #explorepei #chefilona #canadianindigenous #storytelling #gratitude #welalin #canadianforaging

30

0

Top Chef 🇺🇸 comes to 🇨🇦! Catch me today on the premiere of #TopChef Season 22 9pm EST @bravotv @bravotopchef

What a blast to be back, but this time on the other side 😉 and what an honor to be judging alongside this exceptional table of judges. You’re in for a treat, it’s gonna be a great season!

1k

74

Inuvialuit always find each other!
I met these beautiful Inuvialuit arnat, Siila and Keona at the International Indigenous Tourism Conference 2025 in Montreal, and Serena was on my flight back to Vancouver! They all have roots in Tuktuuyaqtuuq, from the Pokiak, Thrasher and Panaktalok families. Lovely to meet you Ladies, keep shining bright! ✨️

#Inuvialuit #Inuit #Arnat #IITC2025

87

3

More forgotten imagery from the Nourished Lands series for @indigenousculinary, @destinationindigenous, @explorecanada with @pachamama

This time from the arctic tundra that is Iqaluit, in Nunavut. Absolutely stunning place filled with amazing people.

@siilaflaherty
@crisfromchile
@tms_slk

#documentary #filmmaking

3

1

54

14