An Anishinaabe member of Aamjiwnaang First Nation is working to increase visibility of Indigenous language and designs through her store in Toronto, with hopes of expanding into top performing malls across Canada.

Chelsee Pettit, 28, who grew up in Sarnia and graduated from St. Michael Catholic School in Bright’s Grove and St. Christopher’s Secondary School, opened aaniin retail inc. in Stackt Market, on Bathurst Street, which sells Indigenous designs and apparel.

“My brand is called aaniin, which means hello in Anishinaabemowin, and basically it’s all about starting the conversation on Indigenous languages, while creating visibility for Indigenous people 365 days a year,” she said.

The storefront of aaniin, located in Stackt Market. Submitted photo.

Pettit tells Sarnia News Today the desire to open a store was sparked two years ago while she was walking in downtown Toronto.

“I saw somebody wearing syllabics on their clothing and I got really excited because it gave me the sense of inclusivity that I’ve never felt living in downtown Toronto before,” said Pettit. “As I got closer, I realized that the symbol was just a triangle, so, immediately I was very disappointed, but I basically just jumped into action because I kind of had this vision of creating a streetwear brand that is as big as Roots, or Lululemon, as an Indigenous business itself.”

Pettit said Indigenous syllabics are the main design focus of her streetwear brand of apparel.

“I include QR codes in the bottom of all of the steam labels. So if anybody who’s walking by asks what it says, or asks about the brand, you can actually pass on the conversation,” said Pettit.

aaniin opened at the market — which is designed entirely out of shipping containers — with ten Indigenous businesses last May and now carries 35 Indigenous brands and businesses.

Pettit would like to bring her business back to this area in the future and hopes to mentor young entrepreneurs one day.

“I do have some land on Aamjiwnaang and I would love to be able to develop that or work with Aamjiwnaang in terms of creating a corporate headquarters, where I can start to provide design internships where Indigenous youth can come and work with hands-on practice. That’s how I learn best,” she added.

Pettit said she really wants to create something that’s 100 per cent Indigenous owned throughout the whole lifespan of the business.

“If we’re not the owners of it, it’s just going to be a third party who isn’t able to actually, truly, showcase our skills,” she said. “At the end of the day, ownership is how you can truly give back to Indigenous communities. Allowing Indigenous businesses, artists, and collaborators, to be the owners of the work that is being collaborated, as opposed to third party corporations taking it over and marketing it a certain way.”

An Anishinaabe member of Aamjiwnaang First Nation is working to increase visibility of Indigenous language and designs through her store in Toronto, with hopes of expanding into top performing malls across Canada.

Chelsee Pettit, 28, who grew up in Sarnia and graduated from St. Michael Catholic School in Bright’s Grove and St. Christopher’s Secondary School, opened aaniin retail inc. in Stackt Market, on Bathurst Street, which sells Indigenous designs and apparel.

“My brand is called aaniin, which means hello in Anishinaabemowin, and basically it’s all about starting the conversation on Indigenous languages, while creating visibility for Indigenous people 365 days a year,” she said.

The storefront of aaniin, located in Stackt Market. Submitted photo.

Pettit tells Sarnia News Today the desire to open a store was sparked two years ago while she was walking in downtown Toronto.

“I saw somebody wearing syllabics on their clothing and I got really excited because it gave me the sense of inclusivity that I’ve never felt living in downtown Toronto before,” said Pettit. “As I got closer, I realized that the symbol was just a triangle, so, immediately I was very disappointed, but I basically just jumped into action because I kind of had this vision of creating a streetwear brand that is as big as Roots, or Lululemon, as an Indigenous business itself.”

Pettit said Indigenous syllabics are the main design focus of her streetwear brand of apparel.

“I include QR codes in the bottom of all of the steam labels. So if anybody who’s walking by asks what it says, or asks about the brand, you can actually pass on the conversation,” said Pettit.

aaniin opened at the market — which is designed entirely out of shipping containers — with ten Indigenous businesses last May and now carries 35 Indigenous brands and businesses.

Pettit would like to bring her business back to this area in the future and hopes to mentor young entrepreneurs one day.

“I do have some land on Aamjiwnaang and I would love to be able to develop that or work with Aamjiwnaang in terms of creating a corporate headquarters, where I can start to provide design internships where Indigenous youth can come and work with hands-on practice. That’s how I learn best,” she added.

Pettit said she really wants to create something that’s 100 per cent Indigenous owned throughout the whole lifespan of the business.

“If we’re not the owners of it, it’s just going to be a third party who isn’t able to actually, truly, showcase our skills,” she said. “At the end of the day, ownership is how you can truly give back to Indigenous communities. Allowing Indigenous businesses, artists, and collaborators, to be the owners of the work that is being collaborated, as opposed to third party corporations taking it over and marketing it a certain way.”