September 22, 2021 | British Columbia

In honour of #OrangeShirtDay and the #EveryChildMatters social movement, CDI College is featuring various local Indigenous businesses on our social feed.

For each Indigenous Business of the Week feature, the college will also be doing various giveaways, from $25 gift certificates to food vouchers for those in need. Follow CDI College to see what we do and for upcoming giveaways.

Alberta: Kodiak Herbal

Kodiak Herbal is an alternative and holistic health service from Alberta.

Certified Industrial Hygienist Kalyn Kodiak is the great-great-granddaughter of Marie Rose Delorme Smith, who settled down in Pincher Creek in the late 1800s. Kalyn, a Metis knowledge keeper, inherited many of her ancestor's recipes and remedies. She uses them in her workshops, as well. Kalyn also leads plant walks and shares teachings about her holistic medicine.

British Columbia: Mr. Bannock

Owner and operator Chef Paul Natrall is a second-generation chef, whose great grandfather Andrew Natrall was a Red Seal chef trained in the army. Natrall has been specializing in Indigenous Cuisine since 2010 and is very excited to share and showcase his fusion-style dishes with the city of Vancouver.

Natrall opened his food truck, Mr. Bannock, to share the pride and joy of Indigenous-fusion cuisine, using traditional ingredients from the Squamish First Nation — such as juniper berries, smoked wild salmon and meats — and traditional methods, such as clay and stone baking.

Quebec: The Roundhouse Café

The Roundhouse Café is a unique project managed by the Groupe communautaire L’Itineraire in conjunction with the city of Montreal and in partnership with Indigenous organizations as a social inclusion project for people from Inuit and First Nations communities.

Situated in Cabot Square, it is the only café in Montreal where Indigenous people experiencing homelessness have the opportunity to work and get paid daily wages rather than monthly or bi-weekly. Since 2018, the Café has helped more than 60 different people this way.

At the café, you’ll be served traditional Indigenous cuisine in a contemporary style. The menu includes coffees, teas, ice-creams, bannock sandwiches, an Indigenous taco, and Tomahawk chips. An Indigenous business roasts the coffee! The atmosphere is fun, with performances in the park every day. There are plenty of opportunities to interact with everyone, Indigenous and non-Indigenous.

Ontario: Spirit Babe Co.

What started as a vegan and certified organic skincare company from Vancouver, BC, has turned into a home studio that sells handmade jewelry, gemstone bracelets and clothing in Shelburne, Ontario.

Amanda, the owner of Spirit Babe Co., is a creative, spiritual, and intuitive Indigenous woman who believes her energy-fueled products will help bring healing to the world and break generational curses.

Manitoba: Red Rebel Armour

Red Rebel Armour is an Indigenized streetwear brand on a vision quest to achieve a quadruple bottom line. They promote culture reclamation, reconciliation, and intergenerational healing through their designs and brand voice.

Red Rebel Armour is committed to Indigenous youth experiencing the criminal justice system by providing culture and employment opportunities to design and create inspiring Indigenized streetwear to awaken the warrior within.

CDI College is proud to support local Indigenous businesses because #CDICares.