FREE BORSEY
EPHEMERAL CREATOR
My name is Free Borsey, and I am a proud member of the Lummi Nation.
I was born and raised on the Lummi Reservation in Bellingham — a true rez kid through and through. I grew up fishing, hunting, cutting and stacking wood at my grandpa’s house or in ceremonial homes. I spent my days running around in the woods, climbing the cliffs of West Shore, and playing in the tides on the mudflats. A lot of my life was immersed in nature, and as I got older, I stayed close to it — snowboarding, canoeing, and spending time outdoors. That deep connection to the land and water made me more and more interested in protecting the environment. We were raised with the responsibility to protect our homelands and, ultimately, the world.
At first, I used social media as a way to advocate, but I was looking for something more intentional. When I moved home from Olympia at the end of COVID, I joined Children of the Setting Sun Productions, where I worked on creating films and advocacy projects. I went around interviewing elders and activists — people who play significant roles in their communities — and that experience changed me. I shifted my degree to Native Environmental Science, building my life around the intersection of culture, voice, and environmental protection.
Ephemeral was sparked by something as simple as a phone case. I was at the store one day, buying a new one. When I took it off the shelf, I thought to myself: this sucks — it’s only going to end up in a landfill or the ocean, and it will exist long after I do. Items don’t have to be made like that. A phone case, a toothbrush, a comb — everyday things could be made from materials that last long enough to serve their purpose, but that also break down when their time is done. Wood, aluminum, anything but plastic. That was the moment I started dreaming about a company that could create everyday items in a more sustainable way.
What turned that dream into reality was winning the Bullet Prize. It gave me belief, momentum, and a push forward.
This project matters to me because it’s not just a business. It’s about responsibility — to my people, to this land, to future generations. Ephemeral is a way to restore balance, to prove that we can live with intention, and to show that what we carry with us can tell a better story.
Your support has allowed me to share my story, advocate on behalf of the voiceless, and dream of a future that is holistic and intentional. This is an invitation to join me in a movement. This is an opportunity to take control of our and that of future generations. With a collective effort we can reshape the landscape of consumerism and waste.
Every purchase you make goes towards my ability to continue this important work, sharing these stories and inspiring real change.
Hey'sxwq'e
