Rita Bear

I can’t remember a time I wasn’t creating. If it wasn’t drawing, sewing and designing clothes I was day dreaming about my next project. I remember also setting up a business venture at home at the age of 8 selling candy and Chips to my family and bringing the profits to the store to reinvest and stock up on goods and expand my enterprise at school. After 20 years working in the Restaurant Industry I walked away. Now that I am looking back at my side business as a kid I shouldn’t be so0 surprised I took the leap to start my own small business, and took the risk to invest in my creative side and venture into the e-commerce world. I still feel new and have so much to learn but I feel really supported by people all over Turtle Island and it feels like a blessing I am able to do something I love. I wanted to create affordable and size Inclusive wear that has native flair and be wearable art.

I choose Nikikw ( neh-geek) as a Business Name because it means Otter in Cree. These beautiful animals survived so much. Otters are energetic and playful with great humor and they value relationships. They are protective of each other. Attributes I admire and see in my own people.
I feel very blessed. When I think of the future I aim to keep growing and in doing so making larger donations to the community. I’d like in the future to build partnerships and meaningful relationships that can help lift up our communities throughout Turtle Island.