For years, my work at Up the Hill Inc. was defined by the passion, lineage, and a direct, daily connection to the land. It was a practice built on the deep, inherited Indigenous healing plant medicine knowledge and culture passed down from my mother and great-grandmother. These roots provided a sense of belonging and purpose that fueled my early days as a herbalist. But as my brand grew and the scope of my operations expanded, I found myself standing at a crossroads that every entrepreneur eventually faces: the moment where a "passion project" must evolve into a "professional entity."
In 2018, I made the strategic decision to transition from a sole proprietorship to a formal corporate structure. Many in the herbal world might view this as a purely bureaucratic move—a way to satisfy tax authorities, manage insurance, or mitigate risk—but for me, it was a profound philosophical shift. Moving to a corporation was about validating my role as a business leader within the wider world of herbalism. It was a signal that Up the Hill Inc. is not just a hobby or a side venture; it is a serious, scalable, and sustainable business enterprise designed to stand the test of time, regardless of market volatility.
This transition forced me to confront the realities of infrastructure. It meant cleaning up historical financial records, implementing rigorous bookkeeping through QuickBooks, and finally seeing my business as an entity distinct from myself. This separation is crucial for our growth. By formalizing the structure, I have gained the clarity needed to make high-level decisions regarding wholesale distribution, product development pipelines, and operational automation. It has allowed me to stop thinking about the next individual order and start thinking about the next five years of the company.
I’ve come to realize that professionalism as an Indigenous business in the herbal industry is a form of advocacy. While we operate with corporate rigor, we change the perception of Indigenous herbalism from something "alternative" to something that gives our customers a new way to think of their wellness, using the holism of Indigenous culture and medicines to create a movement. We are revolutionizing the wellness industry as an Indigenous-led boutique wellness brand rooted in holistic health and sustainability. It tells my wholesale partners, my retail clients, and my clinical peers that I value their trust enough to invest in the systems that ensure consistency and longevity. It tells them that Up the Hill Inc. is not going anywhere, we are here to stay.
We are not just selling products; we are building a legacy. By moving away from the sole proprietorship model, I am no longer just a herbalist; I am the founder of a company that prioritizes governance and operational excellence. I am building for the next generation, not just the next harvest season. The paperwork might be tedious, and the restructuring process can be demanding, but the foundation it creates is what will allow us to scale, thrive, and ultimately, bring botanical wellness to a wider audience while keeping our standards high. This corporate evolution is the most important step I have taken to bridge the gap between being a local practitioner and a national voice in the botanical wellness industry.
Up the Hill Inc. is creating a legacy for my family. I am very proud to say that I work alongside my daughter Crystal who has become a integral part of the business. She is the production lead. She continues to learn the Indigenous Secwepemc culture that was passed down to me by my mother and great-grandmother, Indigenous herbalism, and business operations. This inspires me everyday in the work I do to create our business.