Hinauri Nehua-Jackson

Women in FashionAdvocacyReconciliation
Written By Paige Beveridge
“My work ensures that Indigenous youth, immigrants, and racialized communities all have a seat at the table. I do this not just for today, but for the future of kids like my 9-year-old sister, who is Māori and Cree/Mohawk. She deserves to grow up with her culture, language, and history centered—not erased.”

Hinauri is a model, advocate, and entrepreneur using her platforms to champion equity, reconciliation, and visibility. As Miss Queen Alberta, an international model, and fashion designer, she’s reclaiming and celebrating her culture on global stages - including features in Elle and Vogue. Beyond the runway, she’s a passionate advocate and diplomat, holding the Canadian government accountable to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action and helping make them more accessible to the public. In every role she takes on, Hinauri isn’t just holding space — she’s creating it, bringing her community with her every step of the way. Meet Hinauri. This is her story.

“Every time I meet a young Indigenous person stepping into leadership, creativity, or advocacy, I see the future—and it’s bold, brilliant, and unstoppable.”

P: Tell us about yourself—who are you in your own words?

H: Kia Ora e te iwi! Tânisi! 안녕하세요!

My name is Hinauri Nehua-Jackson. I’m 21 years old, proudly Māori and Korean, and I was raised in a Cree Indigenous community in Alberta, Canada. I’m a fashion designer, international model, Canadian youth diplomat, provincial titleholder, and, above all, someone committed to working for the betterment of my community.

My identity fuels everything I do—whether it's walking a runway, representing youth in diplomacy, or speaking on global stages.

P: What’s a defining experience that has shaped who you are today?

H: Early in my modeling career, I struggled with constantly comparing myself to others. I didn’t feel like I looked the part—my height, weight, and skin tone often made me question if I belonged in creative spaces. But over time, I stopped fixating on appearances and started valuing who I am as a person. I focused on how I made people feel on set—being kind, uplifting others, and ensuring we all left proud of our work. That shift in mindset changed everything for me and continues to shape how I show up in any room.

“Reconciliation isn’t just a theory—it’s an ongoing action.”

P: You’re a strong voice for Truth and Reconciliation. What drives your work in this space?

H: What drives me is the truth that reconciliation isn't just a theory—it’s an ongoing action. That’s why I founded Truth with Action, a platform dedicated to making the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action understandable, relatable, and part of our daily lives.

Growing up on Treaty 6 Territory with both an Indigenous and Canadian experience, I’ve seen how colonial systems continue to exclude Indigenous peoples—especially in urban areas. My work ensures that Indigenous youth, immigrants, and racialized communities all have a seat at the table. I do this not just for today, but for the future of kids like my 9-year-old sister, who is Māori and Cree/Mohawk. She deserves to grow up with her culture, language, and history centered—not erased.

Reconciliation begins with acknowledging colonial harms and choosing to move forward in unity. I live those values every day—for my sister, for our youth, and for generations to come.

P: What inspired you to create Nehua Designs?

H: Nehua Designs was born from the need to reclaim my identity in fashion. I wanted to create a brand that honored cultural roots and empowered Indigenous and racialized youth to take up space creatively. We merge ancestral techniques with modern design to reflect living, breathing cultures—seen through a contemporary lens.

“The crown I wear belongs to the community that raised and supported me. It’s a symbol of collective strength and belief.”

P: What was your path to becoming Miss Queen Alberta?

H: My inspiration came from someone close to home—my mother. She was crowned Miss Universe New Zealand in 2001, and I remember watching her VHS tapes, mesmerized by how she stood in her power and advocated for Māori culture. That lit a spark in me.

When I entered the Miss Queen Alberta competition, I chose to do it fully my way. I didn’t ask for help—I wanted to win or lose knowing I stayed true to myself. I brought representation to that stage—not just as a Polynesian woman, but as an advocate for Truth and Reconciliation and urban Indigenous voices.

Winning was bigger than just me. Every part of my preparation involved Indigenous hands—from clothing to hair and makeup. The crown I wear belongs to the community that raised and supported me. It’s a symbol of collective strength and belief.

P: What’s it like carrying the voice of urban Indigenous youth in your work and community?

H: It’s both an honour and a deep responsibility. Urban Indigenous youth often feel unseen—navigating identity, systemic barriers, and isolation. I speak for those who are overlooked, ensuring our experiences shape the conversations about our futures. It’s not just about being heard—it’s about changing the systems that have silenced us.

As an Indigenous woman from New Zealand, and a sister—a relative—to the Indigenous community in Canada, my role in this advocacy is very unique. I hold a unique perspective that calls Canadians to the call to action of truth and reconciliation. I am a living product of the benefit of the 94 Calls to Action, and I remind others that truth and reconciliation is not only a call to action within Indigenous communities, but a call to action for all Canadians as well.

Being a proud Canadian with an Indigenous urban lens, I hold them accountable—from one Canadian to another—for the benefit of all walks of life to come equally to the table.

“It’s not just about being heard—it’s about changing the systems that have silenced us.”

P: What’s your favourite part of the work you do?

H: Mentorship. I love coaching Indigenous youth—whether it’s on the runway or in leadership circles. Watching others rise in their confidence and purpose is incredibly rewarding. I also love storytelling. Through fashion, media, and advocacy, stories are how we heal, connect, and spark real change.

P: If you could speak to your younger self, what would you say?

H: Be gentle with yourself. You don’t have to carry the weight of the world alone. Keep your art close—it will be your compass, your voice, and your freedom. Everything you’re dreaming is possible.

P: What does being a woman mean to you?

H: Being a woman means leading with both strength and softness. It’s about nurturing, resisting, breaking generational cycles, and expressing yourself unapologetically. It means honoring the women who came before me while making space for those yet to come.

P: What brings you hope?
H: Youth. Every time I meet a young Indigenous person stepping into leadership, creativity, or advocacy, I see the future—and it’s bold, brilliant, and unstoppable. They are the reason I believe in what’s coming next.

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