Art. Jewelry. Fashion. Film. Theatre. Food. Toronto is home to some of the country’s most talented Indigenous makers, creating everything from vibrant paintings and thought-provoking cinema to regalia-inspired clothing and stirring plays. Here, we celebrate three of our city’s coolest Indigenous artists crafting covet-worthy creations.
Jason Baerg
At 25, Jason Baerg went back to school; he wanted to become an industrial designer, but the course was full, so he was enrolled in art fundamentals instead. That little administrative blip changed the course of his life. He spent the next 25 years growing into an acclaimed painter and OCAD associate professor, landing pieces in both museums and corporate collections.
Not content to just make one kind of art, he blossomed into the fashion space, too, with Ayimach_Horizons. Baerg, who is of Cree-Métis and German descent, uses colour symbolism and materials that support his Indigenous values, including natural fibres and recycled items, out of respect for the land. “By fostering a deep connection to the Earth and promoting social responsibility, Ayimach_Horizons stands at the forefront of the fashion industry, creating versatile and chic pieces that appeal to individuals who wish to make a positive impact through their clothing choices,” he says. “The vibe is strong, confident, and fearlessly embracing the future…We aim to inspire and empower our people by using seductive materials to create dramatic silhouettes.”
Baerg’s horsehair accessories are especially striking, whether it’s dangling earrings or an emerald-green purse adorned with two swishing tails. “Horsehair has been a material I love to return to, as it tells a story in movement, and I also love what horses represent to me culturally,” Baerg says. Looking at them, you can immediately picture sashaying down the street with them, majestic strands swinging in the breeze. “What we wear on our bodies can make us feel more powerful or serve as camouflage, depending on how we want to position ourselves,” Baerg says. “I am interested in helping people feel strong and proud of who they are and what they represent.”
Pacha Indigenous Arts Collection
The Cajas-Arcentales clan was fed up. It was 2014 and, from what they could tell, Toronto only had a single Indigenous-owned shop. “How is it that the largest city in Canada, with an incredibly high Indigenous population had next to no visibility of Indigenous people?” Samay Arcentales Cajas says. “It was very important to us to make a space for ourselves and represent our art in ways that don’t feel extractive, but is authentic and fulfilling.” The Kichwa family — including mother Patricia Cajas, father Marcos Arcentales, daughter Samay Arcentales Cajas and son Kinoo Arcentales Cajas — had been selling Indigenous-made art from North and South America for many years, travelling across the country doing shows and following the pow wow trail out on the west coast, but it was time to go brick-and-mortar, opening Pacha Indigenous Art Collection, first on Bloor West, then transitioning into an online boutique.
“Our work is centered around the story of the Condor and Eagle, which tells of a time when Northern and Southern Indigenous people come together in unity, strengthening each other as a community. This teaching is at the base of our philosophy and the storefront became a hub where people could gather and learn from each other through events, workshops, exhibitions, concerts and more,” Samay says. “It became more than a shop.”
Wares include everything from jewellery and home décor to accessories, including GTA brands like Magneson Studios, Shawne Howe, Mo Thunder, Little Shiny Wolf, Joseph Sagaj, Two Hearts Beadwork, and Denesee Paul, plus Samay’s own creations. Kinoo has also created a runway collection, Yana Manta, and they sell clothing inspired by it in the shop; they have shown the line at numerous fashion weeks including New York and Santa Fe. “I carry forward designs, symbols, and narratives from my Kichwa heritage — whether it’s the geometry of the chakana, the representation of mountains and rivers, or the stories of migration and resilience passed down by my family,” Kinoo says. “I try not to replicate traditions; I reinterpret them so they continue to live and grow in the present.”
The family is busier than ever, prepping for Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week and their annual Christmas pop-up. “We hope to continue to build this wide network across borders, regardless of what the political climate looks like. We are here and have always been here and nothing can stop us,” Samay says. “We are showing the world that we have a loud voice that is not willing to be ignored.”
Assinewe Jewelry
Work can be a grind, but, for some, work can bring us joy — bring us closer together. Anishinaabe-Ojibwe twin sisters Edie Assinewe and Jacquelyn Assinewe see making jewelry as a wellness practice. Working a pair of beaded earrings, for instance, could take anywhere from five to eight hours to complete. “It’s also special because it gives us time to create side by side,” Edie says.
Jewelry was a big part of the twins’ childhood; they remember visiting Cape Croker and attending the powwow there, buying beads to make jewelry at their tent. Inspired, they started to hit the craft stores back home for more supplies. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, they joined an online beading circle, which spurred them to create pieces for their regalia, including barrettes, headbands, and hair ties.
Come summer 2020, they decided to take their passion pro, creating Assinewe Jewelry to sell their polymer clay and beadwork pieces. “Our designs are rooted in traditional Ojibwe styles but made to be worn by anyone,” Jacquelyn says. “We always bring our Ojibwe traditions and culture into our work — not only through design and technique, but also by incorporating Anishinaabemowin into the names of our pieces.” Their core floral beadwork collection is, for example, inspired by nature and the cycles of life, which are important to Ojibwe beadwork traditions. They also have a Spirit Name Collection featuring pieces inspired by their spirit names: Edie is Dancing Spirit, Jacquelyn is Carries the Thunder.
The Assinewes’ jewelry comes in neutral and pastel tones, and, unlike many beadwork lines that only offer one-off designs, are available in multiples. They’ve been tasked with custom wedding designs, are featured as part of the Fabrique 1840 program at Simon’s, and have had their pieces used in TV shows.
The best business perk, according to Edie? “Working together has brought us closer as sisters.”
