Supporting Native Communities and Businesses

Here at Indianca, we take pride in both the long standing and new found relationships we have developed with Native and Inuit artists and companies. We'd like to take a moment to give special mention to those Native owned companies, community organizations and artists whose work Indianica is pleased to support.

Art Huron International, a Huron nation owned company based in Wendlake, Quebec, produces many fine native crafts including mandellas, dreamcatchers, medicine pouches, dolls for children and incense, all of which are carried in our gallery. We feature Art Huron's line of incense sticks also on our website.

 

Bastien Industries, a Huron-Wendat nation owned company, is a manufacturer of fine leather and suede moccasins and mukluks for men, women and children. Extremely well constructed with rabbit fur and bead embellishments, comfortable foot beds and both indoor and outdoor style choices, Bastien moccasins have been a greatly popular item, both in our gallery and online. 

Native healer, Blue Eagle, has created a line of purifying products, Invocation, which include the very unique Liquid Smudge, a solution for healers who are not allowed to burn herbs and light candles in hospitals and businesses. Indianica is pleased to carry the line, which includes essential oils and bath products, in our gallery. 

  

Manitobah Mukuks, a Metis owned company, began in 1997 and has since been manufacturing highly sought after moccasins and mukluks using both traditional sensibilities and modern technology. Their products are sold internationally and are instantly recognizable for their quality, style and durability. We carry several of their tall suede mukluks and rabbit fur trimmed moccasins, both in our gallery and online.

   

Monague Native Crafts, Ltd is an Ojibway owned company based in Ontario. All products, from jewelry to dreamcatchers, are handmade. At Indianica, we are proud to offer an array of pottery, dolls, dreamcatchers and jewelry which have delighted and intrigued our international customers for years. Online, you can browse our extensive collection of dreamcatchers, all from Monague!

  

The Nunavut Development Corporation is "...committed to a vibrant, diverse and stable economy throughout Nunavut. It creates employment and income opportunities for residents through business development in arts, crafts, and cuisine with sensitivity to cultural and spiritual values." Indianica is especially proud to represent many talented arctic artists who work in soapstone and serpentine carvings, wool tapestries and doll making. We are currently working directly with the Nunavut Development Corporation to create an historical and biographical online database of artists we represent, whether they are relatively obscure or internationally known. 

If there is a Native owned arts and crafts manufacturer who you would like to see represented here in Montreal feel free to contact us! We are always looking for new and interesting artists while on our quest to support and promote indigenous cultures.

Indianica

79 Rue St. Paul Est

Montreal, QC

Story of the Dream Catcher

Natural Dream Catcher

The dreamcatcher is one of the most iconic symbols of native culture and its legend is one that can be appreciated by all. Below is a sample of the dreamcatcher story, the essence of which translates across not only tribes but all cultures: Good dreams should allowed into our sleep and Bad Dreams must be trapped in the web and held from the dreamer.

We are pleased to offer a variety dreamcatchers adorned with various stones and feathers in our shop and online. 

A STORY OF THE DREAMCATCHER

by Finder

Long ago in the days of the ancestors, some of the children of the people were having strange, frightening dreams.  As the children talked to other children, the troubling dreams spread among them like a plague. The parents of the children were concerned. The people wanted their children to be happy but they didn’t know what to do. The people went to talk to the shaman. The shaman listened patiently as the parents told him about their distress.

The shaman told the parents that he could help. But he would need to spend some time in counsel with the spirits before he would have a solution.  The shaman would have to enter the dream world to find the answer. Upon entering the dream world the shaman was approached by the four elements: Air, Earth, Water and Fire. Air had already heard of the parent’s concern, and had carried the message on the wind to the other elements.

All the spirits in the dream world loved the children and wanted to help return the children to their state of peaceful sleep. The elements and the shaman dreamed together for a long time. They finally came to understand that:

Air could carry the children’s dreams

Water could wash and separate dreams Earth could hold the dreams within her hoop.

Beaded Dream Catcher

Fire could use the morning sun to burn up the unwanted dreams that are caught in the web.

Now all they needed was something to capture the dreams as they were carried by the air. Try as they might, the shaman and the elements could not think of a way to catch the dreams.

Grandmother Spider had been listening!

She said, "Beautiful, loving elements, I can help you as you help me every day." Grandmother Spider continued, "I can weave a special web that only wanted dreams can escape down to the dreamer."

And so she did, and the first Dreamcatcher was made.

The shaman brought the dreamcatcher with him when he made his journey back from the dream world.All of the families of the people made dreamcatchers. The families hung them above where the children slept, in a place that was seen by the sun. No longer were the children troubled by unwanted dreams. Instead they had happy dreams and peaceful sleep.


And so, at last, Great Spirit looked into the dreams of the children and smiled.

Generations Dream Catcher

Indianica
79 Rue St. Paul Est
Montreal, QC
H2Y 3R1

Welcome!

Buffalo Dancer Mukluk

Welcome to Indianica! 

We are pleased to be launching a brand new website soon, where we will be offering a great variety of Native and Inuit arts, crafts, jewelry, moccasins and souvenirs. There will certainly be something for everyone, whether you're a seasoned collector or simply one who enjoys spiritual, natural and authentic artisanal items.

Turquoise and Silver Cuff

If you are visiting Montreal come by the store to browse our outstanding collections of hand-carved Inuit soapstone sculptures, Hopi and Navajo jewelry (including some gorgeous pieces of silver and turquoise), Haida decorative arts, hand made moccasins and mukluks and our extensive collections of dream catchers, many of which are one of a kind!

"The Wanderer" Dream Catcher

Please visit our home page and register to receive a 25% discount toward your first online purchase!


Hope to see you soon!
The Team at Indianica

79 Rue St. Paul Est
Montreal, QC H2Y 3R1
(514) 866-1267