Heather Latter
See a need, fill a need.
That was Bigweld’s slogan in the 2005 movie “Robots,” and it is a quote that always has stayed with Pam Johnson.
That’s why she and her sister, Sandra Wayash-Calder, decided to open “Odawayigamig” at 271 Scott St.—a store that will feature and showcase authentic, genuine crafts made by local aboriginals.
“You can either invent something or go into business,” Johnson reasoned.
“So I saw the need because there are a lot of crafters out there and I thought if we started a store, maybe they’d consign with us.”
The idea of a craft store is something Johnson has been thinking about for a few years.
“I wasn’t doing anything and thought I’d really like to go into business, but I was scared to do it on my own,” she admitted, noting her mother suggested she start up a business with her sister.
And since crafting runs in their family, with both sisters, parents, and grandparents being able to make different items, a store to sell crafts seemed ideal.
Johnson said they approached a number of local crafters who were excited by their venture.
“They think it’s a good idea,” she remarked. “A lot of them have tables at pow-wows and they do well. . . .
“So we definitely want to encourage them to continue because they are making money on their crafts.
“But if they want, we can display them here,” Johnson added.
“We are catering to the tourism market, and we want people to see stuff as they pass by the window and hopefully sell some from here.
“I enjoy going to pow-wows and seeing other people’s crafts, buying their crafts,” she noted.
“A lot of people buy them as gifts—they make awesome gifts.
“So I just thought there would be a market there,” Johnson reasoned.
“This is really a test. I don’t know of anyone who has ever tried this.”
Johnson explained they are prepared to buy items from the crafters to resell or they consign.
“Whatever they want to do, but they’ll make more if they consign,” she noted, adding they don’t have a lot of consignment items right now but are hoping to get more.
“We have some crafters coming in to see what we are doing and we are inviting more crafters to bring in their items,” Wayash-Calder said.
She noted they are planning to have a large variety of native crafts, including jewellery, birch bark baskets, moccasins, vests, purses, blankets, tikinagans, dream catchers, wild rice, snowshoes, paddles, and regalia.
“We’re thinking it’s really rare [to sell] native crafts,” Wayash-Calder said. “There are a lot of crafters out there, but the crafters usually make for their own families and loved ones.
“It’s harder to get the crafts so it’s a rarity,” she remarked.
But the idea of the store goes far beyond selling items. The sisters also want to teach their craft and share their culture.
“I’m doing this personally to share my knowledge with my daughter and my children,” Wayash-Calder said.
“I want her and my kids to know who’s been teaching us and so they’ll know their history.”
“We should share our knowledge and crafts with each other,” echoed Johnson.
The pair even want to learn to make more items themselves, inviting crafters to come in and show them.
“We’re excited to learn and share with everyone else,” Wayash-Calder said.
“We want to preserve our culture.
“There’s a new generation so we’re going with our old crafts and, hopefully, we can change our crafts to be more innovative and contemporary,” she added.
The store, which encompasses plenty of shelving to display the crafts, also has a large table in the centre.
“The table is part of our idea because we want to be able to do crafting when we are sitting here,” Johnson explained.
“We know there’s not going to be a lot traffic all the time so we’re going to be spending time crafting right in the store.
“So if people want to stop in, they will catch us working on something,” Johnson said, noting they plan to include a calender on their website to indicate what they’re working on each day.
Wayash-Calder also is planning to start a YouTube channel to teach people how to make these crafts, and also will be offering her services to go to communities to facilitate workshops.
The sisters are very excited about their new endeavour and are hoping people will stop in to check it out.
“I’m just excited to get to know the Fort Frances community more and be involved with the community,” Wayash-Calder remarked.
“We don’t want to compete with the local businesses,” Johnson stressed.
“We want it to be totally different and then be a part of that family, too.”
She noted they are prepare to direct customers to other businesses for supplies or services when appropriate.
“Work together to help the customer,” she reasoned.
“We didn’t want to do something that was already being done.”
Their website—www.odawayigamig.com—currently is under construction, but will include information on the aboriginal culture, as well as each of the crafters.
The new store opened today with a private opening ceremony this morning, as well as bannock and tea being offered for those stopping by.
“Odawayigamig” will be open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
For more information, call Johnson at 275-6540 or Wayash-Calder at 271-1361.
