Indspire’s Gift Guide is a great resource for sport event organizers seeking beautiful, authentic gifts
By Wendy Helfenbaum
To celebrate Indigenous artists’ creativity and entrepreneurship, Indspire recently published a Gift Guide featuring recipients of its Building Brighter Futures Bursaries and Scholarships Program. Indspire has provided financial support to thousands of students across Canada. The six artists featured here offer unique merchandise ideal for VIP or participant gifts, giveaways and prizes. Several are available for artwork commissions and hands-on workshops.
SHANE KELSEY
Kelsey, a Toronto-based designer, artist and entrepreneur, tapped into his background in Indigenous arts, fashion and event production to create Neechi By Nature, which aims to elevate Indigenous luxury streetwear. Blending modern Indigenous culture with tradition, Kelsey’s work merges bold expressions of resilience and pride. His designs, which are inspired by high-fashion houses like Versace and Gucci, have been showcased in Fashion Art Toronto and are worn by Indigenous creatives across Canada. neechibynature.com
CHRISTINE TOULOUSE
An emerging Anishinaabe artist from Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation, Toulouse specializes in quillwork embroidery. She uses dyed or natural-coloured porcupine quills woven into birch bark to create quillwork pieces, birch bark ornaments, quill or birch bark earrings, keychains, medallions and birch bark baskets. Toulouse’s art—which symbolizes connection between land, seasons and memory—has been exhibited locally and internationally and is inspired by her grandmother. Toulouse offers quillwork classes and can create embroidered logos and other artwork. Instagram: @christine.quills
TAALRUMIQ
Drawing on the ancestral skills handed down from her long line of expert Inuit seamstresses, Taalrumiq shares her Inuvialuit culture through gorgeous couture garments, accessories and fine art. Her work—including sealskin earrings, bookmarks and pins—features traditional elements reimagined with a contemporary vision. Taalrumiq’s art transforms practices once deemed necessary for survival into outlets of cultural preservation, identity, storytelling and creative expression. Instagram: @taalrumiq
DESTINY SEYMOUR
A Winnipeg-based member of the Peguis First Nation, Seymour is an Anishinaabe with a Master of Interior Design degree from the University of Manitoba. For more than 15 years, she has worked as an interior designer and in 2016 launched Indigo Arrows, which offers artisan textiles that reflect the history of Manitoba’s Indigenous Peoples. Following her ancestors who create beautiful patterns to adorn their pottery, Seymour’s products include linens, blankets, quilts and drum stools. indigoarrows.ca
JULIET MACKIE
Mackie, a Montreal-based multidisciplinary artist and jeweller, is Métis with maternal roots in Fort Chipewyan and Red River. She is a citizen of the Métis Nation of British Columbia. Her work is inspired by nature, her family and Métis culture. Mackie is also a painter, beader and student who obtained a BFA in painting and drawing. She sees beadwork as an important connection to family, community and culture, and is currently pursuing a PhD in the Individualized Program at Concordia University. julietmackie.com
JANELLE WAWIA
A self-taught, award-winning artist, painter and fur trapper from Red Rock Indian Band, Wawia incorporates her culture and lifestyle into her art, creating fashion, beaver teeth jewellery and fur hats, mitts and accessories. Wawia’s work is rooted in land and lived experience. She blends natural materials with contemporary silhouettes and bold visual storytelling, creating art that honours tradition while infusing modern Indigenous expression. Wawia also does custom orders like beaded fur hats. janellewawia.com
Published March 2026
