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New Indigenous art store in Charlottetown opens doors to 'all the conversations'

A new store has opened in downtown Charlottetown that sells work by Indigenous artisans.

Charlottetown store makes Mi'kmaq artisans feel valued for the work, operator says

Shane Ross · CBC News ·
Yvette McKenna, general manager of Indigenous P.E.I., standing in store.
Yvette McKenna, general manager of Indigenous P.E.I., says customers want to learn about the artwork and reconciliation in general. (Jessica Doria-Brown/CBC)

Customers who walk into a new Indigenous art store in Charlottetown are often curious about the items for sale. Who made it, how was it created, what is the cultural significance?

That usually leads to questions about reconciliation, said general manager Yvette McKenna.

"Individuals that come in, they really want to understand…. They ask the questions and I think that's where the conversation starts. That's where we open the doors to all the conversations."

The importance of the store, called Indigenous P.E.I., was further reaffirmed when McKenna had a conversation about pricing with one of the artisans.

"They were crying because they said, 'Nobody has ever told me that my work is valued,'" McKenna said.

"So that's the emotion… I am able to come into my work every day and say, 'This is why we're doing what we're doing.' Because we need them to feel valued and we need them to understand that without them, we couldn't have this part of our journey."

Bowl made by Indigenous artist from P.E.I.
All the artwork, such as this bowl, were made by Indigenous artists from P.E.I. (Jessica Doria-Brown/CBC)

The works are made by artisans from Lennox Island and Abegweit First Nations. The store is run with support from organizations including Indigenous Tourism of P.E.I. and Mi'kmaq Printing & Design.

The store purchases the works directly from the artisans and resells them.

Pantetek store sign
Indigenous P.E.I. opened June 28 on Grafton Street in Charlottetown. (Jessica Doria-Brown/CBC)

Erin Suliak, a tourist from Yellowknife, said she was excited to visit the store Monday when she saw words in an Indigenous language on the window.

"I had an open mind when I stepped through the door and I was just curious to see what was being celebrated and uplifted," she said.

Indigenous artwork hanging on wall.
The store is planning to hold small events and demonstrations in the future. (Jessica Doria-Brown/CBC)

The store also has a space for small events and demonstrations, to let elders or artisans interact with the customers.

"Can you imagine coming in and doing a beading work or basket weaving and hearing the stories that go behind it?" said McKenna.

"To be able to share that — have poetry read or some of our books that we have on display that are done by Indigenous writers, and for them to stand there and share their thoughts and 'how this came about'…  I think that's part of what we hope to highlight in the very near future."

With files from Laura Meader and Jessica Doria-Brown

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