Cree-owned 'Wachiya' store selling Indigenous arts and crafts in Old Montreal - Action News
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Cree-owned 'Wachiya' store selling Indigenous arts and crafts in Old Montreal

A new Cree-owned shop has opened in Old Montreal, showcasing products made by northern Quebec Cree artists and craftspeople.

Cree Native Arts and Crafts Association opened shop last month to showcase work of Cree producers

A man and a woman talk in a gallery with traditional artwork on the walls.
The Wachiya store in Old Montreal officially opened its doors on Aug. 8. Before that, Wachiya existed only as an online store, selling Cree arts and crafts from northern Quebec. (Cree Native Arts and Crafts Association)

A new Cree-owned shop has opened in Old Montreal, showcasing products made by northern Quebec Cree artists and craftspeople.

The store, Wachiya which means "hello" in Cree has beenan online retailer in recent years. There also used to be a shop in Val-d'Or, Que.,that closed in the '90s.

The new Montreal location will allow people to shop around insideand learn about Eeyou Istchee and Cree culture.

"Having the Wachiya store, I feel like it opens up that connection to people and to educate people that we are here," said Paula Menarick, who is Cree and Inuk from Chisasibi, Que.

Menarick is one of the many artists from across Eeyou Istcheewhosell theircrafts at the Wachiya store, which officially opened its doors on Aug 8.

"We're from Eeyou Istchee, we practice our culture, we love our culture, we're proud, we want to share it with everyone," said Menarick, who is also the owner of Fast Cloud Inspirations.

An Indigenous woman smiles as she holds moose hide beaded pins
Paula Menarick, who owns Fast Cloud Inspirations, learned how to make baby bonnets, beaded earrings, pipe bags, moosehide pins and many other items from her mother and elders in her community. Some of her products are sold in the new Wachiya store. (Submitted by Paula Menarick)

The small, street-level Wachiya store is located in Old Montreal at 79 Rue Saint-Paul E., and is owned and operated by Cree Native Arts and Crafts Association (CNACA).

The store sells tamarack birds, wooden canoe paddles, moosehide moccasins, beaded earrings, among many other traditionally handmade items. Prices can range from $25 dollars to $500.

Dale Cooper, aCree from Ouj-Bougoumou whoserves as the executive director of CNACA, believes there are a lot of misconceptions, but also a lot of curiosity, about Indigenous culture.

He thinks there's been a shift in recent years, with more people recognizinghow important Indigenous cultures are to Canada.

"They're curious about our culture and they want to learn more. Now we do have that space now to educate them," said Cooper.

"As soon as you walk in, it smells amazing. It kind of reminds you of being back home being in the bush."

A man and a woman cut ribbon for grand opening for Wachiya store.
Dale Cooper, executive director of the Cree Native Arts and Crafts Association, right, with Grand Chief of Eeyou Istchee Mandy Gull-Masty cutting the ribbon at the launch of the Wachiya store. (submitted by Cree Nation Arts and Crafts Association)

The scent is as beautiful as the store setup, according to Cooper.

"It does look somewhat like a museum, a gallery space. But in other ways there are some cultural elements. Everything in there is all authentically Cree and handmade," he said.

Cooper said that since the store opened last month, people have come in with many questions, like where Eeyouchare from, howtraditional items are made, and others.

"Some customers feel uncomfortable wearing Indigenous stuff. We want to show them that there's cultural appreciation versus appropriation," said Cooper.

A wall of hand made bags, paintings and moccasins.
Shoppers can find sewn handbags, ribbon skirts, moccasins, paintings among other crafts at the Wachiya store. (submitted by Cree Native Arts and Crafts Association)

Artists like Menarick are more than happy to share beadwork crafts with anybodywho want to wear them.

"Anybody can wear my beadwork. So that's cultural appreciation and supporting Native artists. Any crafts I make, it's appropriate for anyone to wear and have," said Menarick.

Menarick said that sacred items such as pipe bags, medicine bundle bags and other items that are meant for traditional ceremony, she would only make and sell to Indigenous peoples.

"I wouldn't sell those to just anyone because they're very special. They have a meaning," said Menarick.

Menarick has yet to visit the Montreal shop to see her items on the shelves. She's pleased to know that her products could reach even more people through the Wachiya shop.

"People in Montreal are all from all over the world. And I think that's pretty cool and neat how a little piece of Cree culture can go out to anywhere In the world now," said Menarick

A pair of moose hide snowshoes on display.
Traditional snowshoes on display at the Wachiya store. (submitted by Cree Native Arts and Crafts Association)

While the main focus at Wachiyais to showcase Cree artists and culture, there is also a section dedicated tothe work of Mohawk artists.

Cooper said that the store is also looking into hosting workshops for people to learn beadwork, embroidery, among other things.

He said it's important to pass down that knowledge to the next generation.

"These arts and crafts get passed down because that's how we've managed to retain our culture for centuries," said Cooper.

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