Small businesses featured at The Indigenous Playmaker Marketplace in Toronto
By Sam Laskaris
TORONTO – A pair of Anishinaabe women are among those whose businesses are being featured in a high-profile space.
An initiative to highlight some Indigenous small business owners was created inside Real Sports Apparel, located at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena. The project, dubbed The Indigenous Playmaker Marketplace presented by Mastercard, was created in conjunction with the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Indigenous Celebration Game, held on Jan. 10.
Four First Nations businesses were offered spots inside the marketplace. Besides Jan. 10, the spot will also be open from Jan. 13-15 and Jan. 19-21.
Among those businesses taking part in the marketplace are aaniin, a company that sells various Indigenous apparel products, jewellery, and accessories, and was created by Aamjiwnaang First Nation member Chelsee Pettit, and MINI TIPI, co-founded by Trish Pitura, a Nipissing First Nation member.
Pettit created a custom tote bag that says Go Leafs Go in Anishinaabemowin. MINI TIPI created a custom blanket representing Indigenous design in textiles.
Working with Mastercard is nothing new for Pettit.
“I have worked with Mastercard off and on for the last several years,” she said. “I was a recipient of their small business fund back in 2022. I was a recipient winner of a $10,000 grant and I was able to get the priceless Mastercard experience where we were able to go to a Raptors’ game, which is the first time I’d ever been in a sports suite.”
Pettit also had the chance to go to Mastercard headquarters and learn from a handful of mentors from a few different other organizations that were also partnering with the company.
Pettit created 70 special edition tote bags to be sold at the marketplace. They are on sale for $125 each.
“It’s something that I actually already had as a bestseller,” Pettit said, adding some tweaks were necessary to make the Leafs-themed tote bag. “We’re super excited for customers to have access to Indigenous languages at a very mainstream approach.”
Pettit’s tote bags are licensed specifically just for this limited-edition collaboration.
“But who knows what the future will hold,” she said.
Meanwhile, MINI TIPI’s blankets are selling for $225 each at the marketplace. A total of 100 were created.
“It’s pretty unreal actually,” Pitura said of the fact her company, launched in 2016, was asked to be a part of the marketplace.
Only now is Pitura realizing how big of a deal this is.
“I feel because I was driven to get the project done on such a short timeline because our suppliers are in Italy and usually there’s a process in terms of sampling and production it’s now kicking in how amazing this opportunity is,” she said. “I’m really excited for it and it’s a huge honour for us to be participating.”
Pitura said the inspiration behind the Leafs’ blanket was to celebrate connection.
“This blanket was specifically designed for the Toronto Maple Leafs, incorporating who they are as an organization and for their fans and also incorporating Indigenous teachings or heritage or roots,” she said.
MINI TIPI is based in Gatineau, Que. The company, which has 14 employees, also has a 10,000-square foot warehouse to handle its cutting, sewing, and distribution.
Shawna Miller, the senior vice-president of marketing and communications for Mastercard Canada, believes its vital to create opportunities for Indigenous entrepreneurs to showcase their talents and share their culture as they play a key role in local economies.
“We’re honoured to partner with [Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment] and an inspiring group of Indigenous small-business owners to showcase their work, grow their audience, and ultimately, help empower their journey toward sustained business success,” Miller said.
Jordan Vader, MSLE’s senior vice-president of global partnerships, also speaks highly of the initiative.
“Together with Mastercard, we look forward to debuting The Indigenous Playmaker Marketplace and give fans a new, unique avenue to support Indigenous small businesses while cheering on their favourite team,” Vader said.