Atikuss: Indigenous ancestral knowledge as a source of hope

The philosophy of a local and Quebec product is often based on the desire to highlight local talent and encourage local trade. For Atikuss , the reflection is all the more profound, since the primary objective is to preserve and enhance the ancestral knowledge of Aboriginal communities. A major challenge, let's say, in this era where overconsumption and disposable fashion are at their peak. Fortunately, the trend is being reversed one step at a time, and Atikuss is contributing greatly to this.

The company

Our winters are long and cold, especially in the Innu community of Uashat, very close to Sept-Îles, on the North Shore. It is in a small hotel located near the river that Mrs. Josée Leblanc founded Atikuss in 2013. Le Repos du Guerrier, serving as a bed and breakfast for tourists from the region, also houses an Aboriginal art gallery as well as the clothing workshop. main and the Atikuss store.

This workshop, which initially had only Josée Leblanc, founder and owner, now employs 9 employees, including 7 artisans from the Innu community. This number is set to increase in 2019. Ms. Leblanc emphasizes, with a smile in her voice, that “2018 was truly a pivotal year in the life of the company”. Following the visit of the ambassador of Signé Local, Vanessa Pilon, in connection with her new project MAMU , the stars have aligned for the young company.

Indeed, the company, which needed equipment to cut leather, was referred to a merchant of furs and Aboriginal products on rue Saint-Louis, in Old Quebec. The latter was retiring and, in the hope of seeing his commercial activities continue, decided to deal with Atikuss, who adhered to the same values. “We not only acquired the machine, but also his business, including the shop! », says Josée Leblanc, while explaining that this decision was made in just a few hours. “It was an amazing opportunity, and the location was perfect! It could hardly have been better”.

This store therefore provides a new showcase for Aboriginal products and the Innu community. Madame Leblanc offers Quebec citizens and many tourists products from the Atikuss brand, namely boots, moccasins, mittens and other accessories, as well as other Aboriginal creations from Quebec and Canada.

Boots of Hope

Atikuss' primary mission is to support the women of the communities by promoting their ancestral know-how and their culture. Indeed, the artisans who work for the company are paid fairly and are highly valued. Not to mention the incredible project at the base of its activities: the Boots of Hope. In addition, Atikuss relies on eco-responsible hunting under management for its supply.

When Ms. Leblanc told me the story and the mechanics of the Boots of Hope , I was speechless as the project brings hope and is imbued with mutual aid, an important value for these communities.

Atikuss is affiliated with Chez Doris , a shelter for women in difficulty located in Montreal. With its assistance program for Inuit and Aboriginal women, Chez Doris allows women to reconnect with their culture and regain their self-esteem through beadwork. These, as part of their reintegration, make the beaded figures affixed to each pair of Boots of Hope. “The beadwork manufacturing process ends with the inscription, by the woman, of a personalized message on her back,” finally underlines the founder.

Atikuss customers can choose almost every element of their Boots of Hope: one of the four models offered, the color, the type of fur and, of course, the beading. “Buying an Atikuss product also means helping an entire community of women: it's a social gesture,” the founder told me. On the Atikuss website, it is also possible for customers to see the manufacture of their boots by the craftswomen live from the Ushuat workshop.

A local impact

Of course, local production involves several challenges, in particular the training of craftswomen and management during a period of growth, but the mutual support that reigns in the workshops and the fact that the employees believe deeply in the cause supported by the company have made it possible It's up to Atikuss to progress and make its place.

Buyers of Atikuss products definitely make more than a purchase: they help Aboriginal women and their communities and participate in the transmission of the ancestral traditions of our great Nordic country, in addition to revaluing local work.

To find out more about the company, visit its member profile .

Reviewed By Melanie