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National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

This is a day of reflection when we set aside time to remember and honour the Indigenous survivors, their families and the communities of the children who didn’t return home because of the tragic history and ongoing legacy of residential schools. We also wear orange to acknowledge this harmful legacy and show our commitment to moving forward in the spirit of reconciliation.

Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters”.  The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations.

The Orange Shirt Day Legacy

Orange Shirt Day is a legacy of the St. Joseph Mission (SJM) Residential School (1891-1981) Commemoration Project and Reunion events that took place in Williams Lake, BC, Canada, in May 2013. It was then that former student Phyllis (Jack) Webstad told her story of her first day at residential school when her shiny new orange shirt, bought by her grandmother, was taken from her as a six-year-old girl.

Learn more about Phyllis’ experience at a residential school and why it is important that these stories continue to be told here: Phyllis Webstad – On Orange Shirt Day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3q7byZhbaI

We each have a role to play in reconciliation. It is up to all of us to commit to listening and incorporating values of respect, compassion and equity into our daily lives, work practices, and choosing how we use our economic resources. Economic Reconciliation is about bringing Indigenous voices, perspectives, ideas and people into spaces in which, maybe they weren’t always welcome. As Indigenous communities continue to advance self-determination and sovereignty, economic growth and entrepreneurial activity is essential to the vibrancy of future generations.

Local Indigenous Businesses

We have compiled a list of businesses that are 100% Indigenous owned and operated to share the diverse gifts and culture that are available from local Indigenous artists, craftspeople and entrepreneurs. As consumers we can make an impact by changing the way we buy goods and services. Direct the money you already spend towards a positive impact and start your own path towards economic reconciliation.

If you know of any businesses we may have missed or you’d like to be included please email us at indigneous@creativemanitoba.ca.


Anishinaabe Bimishimo

16-year-old Émilie McKinney is from Swan Lake First Nation, Manitoba an international dancer (hoop, fancy, jingle, traditional) and an artist who wanted to make herself a new jingle dress. Émilie discovered there was no one who made them any longer, so she decided that she would design and craft her own locally made jingles.

Émilie drew up a logo and a five-year plan so that she could be the new Canadian manufacturer, supplier and designer of jingles and worked closely with her mom, Natalie Foidart to get her business started. She wanted to start a business with a name that truly represented and reflected who she was. After researching various meanings to words and careful consideration, she chose Anishinaabe (it’s who she is, a Native Canadian, First Nation Person) Bimishimo (dancing by) Corporation. https://anishinaabebimishimo.ca/


Anne Mulaire

Anne was raised to embrace her Anishinaabe/French Métis héritage, respect all people, and honour the planet we share—teachings that have guided her as a businesswoman, a designer, and most importantly as an individual. Her mother, Huguette, taught her the importance of honouring and respecting mother earth and to never ever forget where she came from. Her father, David, influences Anne through his art and brings his talents to the label by creating Métis prints for the company’s Heritage Collection. https://annemulaire.ca/


Bead N Butter

Jessie Pruden is a Metis beader from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her fun and colourful designs are inspired by her friends, family, nature and her culture. Jessie started beading in 2020, during quarantine. The loneliness of lockdown made her want to connect with family, so she ordered a beading kit from Cedarlilie Beads, and invested 12 hours every day for months practising using YouTube, and eventually reaching out to fellow beaders and family for help. She soon found an amazing beading community, and this new craft allowed her to connect to many new friends, and reconnect with old ones. She now happily beads every day with her brother, Noel, and her little half-chihuahua, half-pug, Bella (for moral support). Jessie pulls from many aspects of her life for inspiration. She identifies as a queer, disabled, Metis woman, and finds lots of colour and lights in those communities that she channels in her contemporary designs. https://www.beadnbutter.ca/


Boreal Workshop

Boreal Workshop is a Manitoba family business. We design and manufacture handmade fine jewellery and functional art objects. Specialties include gold, silver, and copper jewellery, diamond and coloured stone jewellery, earrings, rings and wedding rings. The owner Tanis Thomas is a Maskéko/Anishinaabe/Métis Ikwe and member of Ochekwi-Sipi Cree Nation (Fisher River), with family from the Interlake and Grand Beach regions of Manitoba and ancestors from Russia, Wales, and Scotland. The head jeweller and lapidary/gemologist is Canadian of English and French ancestry, with roots in Winnipeg, and the Manigotagan/Long Lake area of Manitoba. An accomplished goldsmith, silversmith, coppersmith, and gem cutter, he has studied gemology with the GIA (Gemological Institute of America). https://borealworkshop.com/


Canadian Plains Gallery

Metis artist Jacques St. Goddard is founder and CEO of Canadian Plains Gallery. An agency that promotes the highest quality art of Manitoba’s premiere Indigenous Artists. Cree, Michif,  Ojibwe, Dene, Inuktitut,  Dakota, Ojibwe-Cree. A wide selection of quality and cultural gifts for yourself or for others. The mediums consist of paintings, carvings, sculptures, original jewelry, stone painting, caribou hair tufting, porcupine quill work, talking sticks, beadwork, pottery, wood burning, birch bark biting, flutes, photography, prints and art cards. Artists are available for workshops, murals, commissions and logos. We are also providing traditional dance demonstrations, singers, photography services and entertainment coordination. https://www.canadianplainsgallery.com/


Cree-Ations and Artist Showcase

Cree-ations & artist showcase is our small family-run business founded by Edna Nabess, Cree from Mathias Colomb First Nation, using skills learned from her Cree grandmother and mother. Today, at her store in Winnipeg, Edna makes designer dresses with beadwork, fringe and other Aboriginal themes., we cree-ate one of a kind handmade gifts. Our fashions come straight from the heart and reflect the proud life and soul of our peoples. All fashions are designed in-house and hand-made by local artisans with great attention to detail, Custom Designer Dresses, Moccasins and Slippers, Mukluks, mitts, jackets, hats, jewelry, prints, paintings and spiritual arts, breastplates, rawhide drums, blankets, and dream-catchers. True quality shows through in all our work.  https://www.facebook.com/creeationsandartistshowcase/


DeneCree Design

Christine Merasty is a Denesuline First Nation woman from Lac Brochet, MB and raised in Bowsman MB. She is the owner of Dene Cree Designs Inc. with her husband Raymond Merasty. Dene Cree Designs is a 100% Indigenous locally owned and operated store selling beautiful items for you and your home. Bedding, artwork, and traditional beaded jewelry is available at Dene Cree Designs. Plus housewares, jewelry, clothing, lanyards, quilts, fabrics, bags, purses, blankets, kitchenware, art and more.  https://denecreedesigns.ca/


Etchiboy

When the La Broquerie Métis, Miguel Vielfaure, travelled to Peru in May of 2006, he never intended to launch into the fair-trade market. However, this is exactly what happened when he created Etchiboy (Etchiboy, which means “Eh, little boy” in Mitchif) in early 2007. Étchiboy is a Métis company which creates high-quality Indigenous products. When you buy one of our products you are also supporting single mothers and orphans who are Quechua Indians from the Andes in the region around Cusco, Peru. Etchiboy specializes in handloomed historic Metis sashes. https://www.etchiboy.com/en/


First Row Collectibles

Indigenous-owned and specializing in pop culture collectibles and authentic autographs from sports stars and celebrities of yesterday and today. Owner Curtis Howson originally from Crane River, Man also carry a large selection of sports cards, comics, vintage magazines, and toys. If it is collectible, chances are they will carry it! Howson said he wishes to pass this hobby on to the next generation of collectors. The store has a 1980s arcade style video game customers can play. “We want young kids to come in, we want them to feel invited because we were those young kids at one time,” he said. https://www.firstrow.ca/


INAC

This store’s name stands for Indigenous Nations Apparel Co., a reclamation of an old acronym. Store owner Michelle Cameron, from Peguis First Nation, said the idea behind the store name is meant to bring positivity around what is normally a negative subject. Located in the Polo Park Mall in Winnipeg, INAC is a great place to shop for sustainable, unique clothing. You’ll love everything there is to find at this shop. Once a month, INAC will feature the work of Indigenous artists from across the country, which will be promoted through limited editions of fashion clothing. The artists work is featured on clothing and their website along with a bio. https://inac.ca


Indigo Arrows

Destiny Seymour is an Anishinaabe interior designer based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Destiny started designing artisan textiles for interiors that respectfully reflects local Manitoban Indigenous peoples and their history after struggling to find materials that she could incorporate into design projects. Her company, Indigo Arrows, now offers a range of table linens, pillows, and blankets that showcase patterns from local Indigenous pottery and bone tools that date from 400 to over 3000 years old. These patterns are picking up where her ancestors left off. Her design practice takes a critical look at the representation of Indigenous cultures within spaces. Her design mission is to respectfully reflect local Indigenous cultures & identity within architectural forms, interior spaces, furniture, and textiles. This design process acknowledges community engagement, inclusiveness, and collaboration when creating new works. https://indigoarrows.ca/


Iris Lauzon Designs

Iris Lauzon is an Indigenous fashion designer who has been creating work for decades including: costumes for film and theatrical productions, custom fashions, instructing, as well as retail alterations.  Iris has collaborated with several other artisans within her practice and has much knowledge in different approaches to a project, be it a ribbon shirt, ribbon skirt, carrying bag or star blanket. She also ensures that qualify materials and fabrics are always utilized within her work, sometimes even seeking out materials from Europe or within the local community. Her commitment to her craft has also been demonstrated through her research to write a book entitled “Historical Ribbon Shirts”. The pages highlight how resistance and the reclamation of culture has greatly influenced the contemporary designs of ribbon shirts. https://www.irislauzondesigned.com/


Mantic Indigenous/Metaphysical

Owner and long time entrepreneur Racheal Campbell, from Duck Bay MB, in the owner of MANTIC, a family run Indigenous and Metaphysical Store. Hoping to provide positive enlightenment from our shop to your home. We sell locally made and some imported Indigenous wares; books, candles, moccasins and jewellery. We also have crystals, clothing and housewares. “All of these products are going to do something for you, are going to help you in some way,” she said. “It makes people happy, people enjoy them, they’re useful. The items that I try to purchase aren’t just going to sit there; they’re going to do something for you.” https://www.manticmetaphysical.com/ 


Native Life Clothing

Cree owned and operated. Native Life Clothing can create anything custom for you from memorials to school events. Also have many designs to choose from on the website.  All our clothing is made in Canada and supplied by a local native clothing company. Custom clothing at reasonable prices. Streetwear for the whole family. A small local company in business for 4 years. Supporting local Canadian Artist, ethical and eco-friendly fashion. https://nativelifeclothing.com/


Native Love Notes

Nativelovenotes is a brand that focuses on Indigenous humour, uplifting messages and colourful designs, located on Treaty One Territory AKA Winnipeg, opening on April 29, 2021. Coming from Opaskwayak Cree Nation, founder Amy Jackson, learned that laughter and joking around are all fundamental parts of the personhood of Cree people. She works to bring that humour into her artwork, bringing healing and those Auntie laughs to friends and relatives far and wide. Indigenous excellence is rooted in community, when one person rises, we all rise together. They can’t be separated. Wahkohtowin means, We are all related, and as Nativelovenotes continues to thrive, we continue to lift others with us. Amy is representing her Indigenous culture and heritage through her more than 100 designs on stickers, buttons, prints, jewelry, and clothing. https://nativelovenotes.com/


Nimis Creations

Blanche Chief, is the artist & designer behind Nimis Creations.  “As I began my journey to self-discovery as a proud First Nations woman it led me to the traditional beadwork and art of my people.  I am a graduate of Red River collage with a diploma in Child and Youth Care and am currently in my second year at University of Winnipeg in Indigenous Studies.  My Traditional culture had been lost for so long, I wanted to be a part of the Indigenous movement that is bringing our traditional knowledge and creative practices to the forefront.” http://www.luckygirl.ca/nimis-creations


Parkland Fabric and More (Dauphin)

Roxanne Shuttleworth is a Métis woman (of Saulteaux/Cree/Dakota/British/Scottish/French descent) from Ebb & Flow First Nation. She is the owner of Parkland Fabrics and more Inc. is pleased to offer a fabric, notions, custom apparel and eventually classes to the Parkland area of Manitoba – and beyond. Parkland fabrics is small, with dreams of growing into a large multi goods and service provider to quilters, tailors, designers, crafters and anyone else with a passion to create. Roxanne also carries her own line of custom designed 100% Cotton Batiks in Indigenous designs. She works closely with a family business in Bali to design and create the handmade fabric. She has created 5 collections to date. https://www.parklandfabrics.com/


Red Eagle Promotions

Red Eagle Promotions is a 100% First Nations owned online gift shop based in Manitoba. All products are designed by Indigenous-Canadians and we are highly dedicated in promoting Indigenous artists and their respective works. Our mission is to establish meaningful relationships with our artists. Red Eagle Promotions promotes all artists in our yearly catalogue which is sent out across Canada. Show your support  by purchasing our products— We guarantee quality you can trust. We have a wide selection of products which includes -tote bags, wallets, journals, blankets, towels, and much more! www.redeaglepromotions.com


Red Rebel Armour

When Sean Rayland-Boubar decided to start his sober journey, he wanted to find clothing that supported his new path. Unable to find what he was looking for, Rayland started his own line of apparel featuring empowering messages of community, spirituality and sobriety. Founded in 2018, Red Rebel Armour is an Indigenous led social enterprise selling Indigenous made authentic streetwear to fund their employment service which provides on the job paid training in a culturally safe work environment for our relatives returning back to the community from the criminal justice system. In addition to providing employment, we have incorporated Indigenous ways of knowing throughout the organization. This means we reshaped the workplace and incorporated an Indigenous worldview in everything we do. https://redrebelarmour.ca/


Red Road Clothing

Red Road clothing is a 100% Indigenous-owned family business. What started a fundraiser to give her daughter an opportunity to see the world has turned into a full-time business for Winnipeg’s Crissy Slater. We came out with our first design “Berry Fast” which honoured our daughters Coming of Age Ceremony as a fundraiser to send our oldest daughter to Italy. We could not keep up with the demand for our clothing and customers asked for the next design and Red Road Clothing was born. https://redroadclothing.com/


Teecka’s Boutique

In September of 1997, Marilyn Tanner-Spence (Waywayseecappo)  and her husband Walter Spence (Fox Lake Cree Nation) took a leap of faith and opened the very first Teekca’s Boutique in Norway House, Manitoba. They opened with 800 square feet of retail space and within a year expanded the location to 2000 square feet. “Our primary goal was to provide quality giftware for the local community crafted by the first peoples of North America, and to share the history, geography and culture of their people.” Within 6 years they’ve opened 6 locations throughout Manitoba. “Our latest venture is this website. Our focus will be Aboriginal-themed products and will also offer items that are not easily accessed in remote communities. We have a long list of artists, crafters, and jewelry makers from across North American continent known as turtle island.” https://teekcasboutique.com/


Turtle Woman Indigenous Wear

April Tawipisim, Woodland Cree from Barren Lands First Nation, wanted to bring her culture back to her people. “I didn’t start wearing ribbon skirts until, I don’t know, 10 years ago,” said Tawipism. “I reclaimed my identity as a Cree woman. I started going to sweats and powwows and learning my culture, and reclaiming my grandfather’s name.”. If you want to give an Indigenous person in your life something truly special, you’ll want to check out Turtle Mountain Indigenous Wear. This shop offers traditional Indigenous clothing, fabric, broadcloth for ceremonies, crafts, powwow regalia and ribbon skirts.. They also offer beading classes, so consider paying for a class or two as a super unique gift! https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069618023848  


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