The Katarokwi Indigenous Art and Food Market is the only one of its kind in Ontario, located in Kingston, Ka’tarohkwi, Ken’tarókwen and/or Cataracoui. Kingston remains on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and Huron-Wendat First Nations.
Tourism Kingston acknowledges the everlasting presence of these Nations and other First Nations, Métis, and Inuit who share this landscape today. We are grateful to reside in and remain visitors to this territory, while acknowledging our responsibility to honour the land, water and skies with gentle respect and purifying preservation.
Experience a collection of Indigenous music, art, and food every Sunday from June 4 through September 24 from 10 am to 3 pm in Springer Market Square. This market features local Indigenous artists, artisans, chefs, crafters, and performers. Read on to discover some of the Katarokwi Indigenous Art and Food Market’s vendors and learn more about why they participate in the market.
W.C. Creatives
W.C. Creatives sells jewelry, fashion, art, pottery, and much more. Co-owners Jaylene and Dakota are Cree artists who operate Kingston’s only Indigenous storefront at Fort Henry National Historic Site and are highly involved in the Kingston arts community. They bring their business to the market to share their culture in a positive way and to learn from other Indigenous creators in the community.
Contact: 343-333-5180 | Email
Cadue’s First Foods
Cadue’s First Foods was started by passionate chef Lisa, a Mohawk woman originally from Tyendinaga. Cadue’s First Foods is a catering service, serving up traditional First Nations food. Lisa sells Indian tacos made with homemade seasonings; fresh butter tarts; and wild rice with blueberries. She loves the support she receives from the community at the Indigenous market. Cadue’s sold out during the opening weekend of the market, so get there early to try Lisa’s mouthwatering cuisine.
Contact: 613-328-9590 | Email
Dream Creations
Judi, owner of Dream Creations, brings her 20 years of artistic talents to the market for another year. Judi started the business making ribbon shirts and dresses, and her sister Thelma joined her with leather creations. Judi and Thelma say they come to the market “for hugs and smiles.” One of their most popular products are dream catchers, made with a variety of materials such as red willow, brass, and antlers. They also share Indigenous stories by selling books and CDs. Judi’s first novel, Wabanang: an Anishinaabe granddaughter’s search for the truth, is available for purchase. Judi will also be giving a presentation on her novel on August 13th at the market.
Contact: 613-354-1785 | Email
Flint and Maple Beadwork
Flint and Maple Beadwork is owned by Liv, a Mohawk, Wolf Clan artist who creates traditional yet contemporary beadwork, influenced by Haudenosaunee teachings of a good mind. Liv started Flint and Maple Beadwork to celebrate Indigenous art, as Liv is grateful for their family’s teachings. Flint and Maple’s most popular product are their beaded poppy pins, made by Liv’s grandmother. Other products include brightly coloured Pride earrings and bracelets, wampum keychains, and feast bags. Liv sells at the market to share the business and connect with fellow vendors to share tips and techniques of beadwork.
Contact: Email | @flintandmaple
L and B Native Crafts
Lorie and Brodrick are the skilled artisans behind L and B Native Crafts. They work together to create native art pieces and ceremonial items, which include traditional talking sticks, rattles, and medicine bags. Lorie creates intricate beadwork, such as earrings and bracelets, that embody their Indigenous traditions. The pair are also skilled drummers and will bring their talents to the market for performances on July 2nd and August 20th.
Contact: Email
4 Crazy Crows
You will find delightful, handmade Metis jewelry and leather work at 4 Crazy Crows. The name comes from the four artists behind the business: Christine, her mother, and her two daughters. Their most popular creation are the three loop earnings, in which each loop represents the mind, body, and soul. As a returning vendor, Christine is excited to engage with her community and pass her culture on to her children. The artists of 4 Crazy Crows will also be participating in performances at the market throughout the summer; Christine will be giving a beading demonstration on September 3rd and Christine’s daughter, Kathryn, will be performing as a traditional dancer on September 24th.
Contact: 613-532-7154 | Email
Martin’s Beads
Martin’s Beads was founded nine years ago by the Martin family in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. Lisa, with support from her niece, sells an extensive range of beads, craft supplies, and beadwork creations, such as earrings and hair clips. Their beadwork is designed by the whole Martin family, who work together to complete beading projects. Martin’s Beads hopes to inspire folks at the market to be creative and pursue artistic projects.
Contact: 613-242-9130
Jen’s Traditional Leather Creations
If you are looking for handcrafted and striking moccasins, pay a visit to Jen’s Traditional Leather Creations. You will also find traditional leather accessories, beadwork, tumblers, and clothing at Jen’s stand. Jennifer, from the Mohawk Nation, Bear Clan, started creating during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has been a long-time vendor at the market. The business thrives off of the market’s friendly customers.
Contact: 613-919-7256 | Email
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Turtle Island Snacks and Fine Foods
Turtle Island Snacks and Fine Food is your go-to spot for Indigenous fine foods and snacks. Iris and her mother, Melanie, of the Mohawk Nation, Turtle Clan are the dynamic duo behind this venture. Their offerings include Moccasin Joe Coffee (roasted on Iris and Melanie’s Mohawk territory, Kannehsatà:ke), Mitsoh Pemmican Strips and Dried Meat, bannock mix, wild rice, maple syrup, and chips. They hope to use their platform to bring Indigenous products from around Turtle Island (North America) to the local Kingston community.
Contact: @turtle.island.snacks.finefood
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Creations by Can
Meet Candice, a multi-skilled Oji-Cree artist running Creations by Can as a side hustle to support her family and share her Indigenous culture. Candice comes from a long line of talented beaders – her mom beaded moccasins for the Canadian Olympic team and her aunt beaded a coat for one of Canada’s prime ministers. Candice’s offerings include earrings, wallets with custom beading, and pins with red handprints to raise awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.
Contact: 613-921-9112 | Email
Mishigamiing Beading
“If you can’t bead it, I can bead it,” says Ocean of Mishigamiing Beading. From intricate necklaces to detailed hats, Ocean fashions the most elaborate beaded designs and artwork. Ocean has had a passion for design and beading for over ten years, influenced by her Cree and Haudenosaunee heritage. The support from family has led her to sell her unique Indigenous creations at the market this year.
Contact: 249-358-2124 | Email
Colleen’s Crafts
Colleen is a crafter on a mission to share her Indigenous culture with her customers and the community. Her work includes detailed dream catchers, jewelry, leather creations, and medicine wheels and pouches. She also makes seasonal designs and custom orders. She is at the market because she believes that the more people that learn about and understand Indigenous cultures, the better.
Contact: 613-929-1115 | Email
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Jackpine Designs
In August 2020, Taylor Tye launched Jackpine Designs after learning to bead from Dr. Karen Lawford at the Queen’s University Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre. Employing both traditional and contemporary techniques such as double-needle flat-stitch, brick-stitch, and fringe combinations, Taylor creates a variety of hand-beaded adornments. Her designs are inspired by her Ojibwe, French, and Celtic Canadian heritage and her admiration of the resilient, windblown trees growing along the rugged shorelines of her many backcountry canoe adventures.
When asked about her decision to join the Katarokwi Indigenous Market as a vendor, she says, “Growing up in Kingston, I didn’t see Indigenous representation often. These past few years, it has been so beautiful and encouraging to see Indigeneity being increasingly represented more broadly and boldly across the city. To be able to be a part of this seasonally permanent reclamation of a very colonial space, Market Square, feels so good, so right.”
Contact: Website contact form | @jackpine.designs
The Katarokwi Indigenous Art and Food Market is coordinated by RIEL Cultural Consulting with support from Tourism Kingston and the City of Kingston. This program is funded, in part, by the City of Kingston in support of the Creative Industries Strategy that positions Kingston as a destination of choice for creative industry producers and consumers.
