Wabanoonkwe

Boozhoo (Hello),
My name is Wabanoonkwe, an Anishinaabe woman from the elk clan. I am a proud member of the Wabaseemoong Independent Ojibwe Nation and was raised in Shoal Lake First Nation, Treaty 3 Territory in Ontario, Canada.
As a military spouse of more than 20 years and a mother of three, I cherish family, community, and the joy of exploring cuisines and cultures from around the world.
With over three decades of entrepreneurial experience, I am deeply passionate about Indigenous empowerment and cultural preservation. My career has spanned fashion startups, business development, and creative direction for editorial photo shoots and fashion shows. Through every project, my purpose remains the same — to celebrate and enliven the beauty of being Indigenous through art.
What defines my work is a commitment to fostering Indigenous pride, visibility, and economic sustainability.
I strive to leave a lasting legacy that highlights the richness of Anishinaabe culture and inspire others to reconnect with their heritage, language, and traditions.
Whether through innovative business strategies, fashion and design, or cultural advocacy, I believe that our heritage is a powerful source of strength and inspiration.
My mission is to share Indigenous stories and creativity, raise cultural awareness, and promote inclusivity, all while honoring and sustaining traditional ways in a modern world.

wabanoonkwe

The story behind my drive textiles for the collection NOCTURNAL ROSE

As a designer, choosing the right fabric can truly make or break your collection. The first lesson I learned in school was to understand textiles. This is still a process I’m still navigating, but I do celebrate my wins when they’re executed to my vision.

This collection was a combination of sequins, liquid satins, beads, and a white floral design that was meant to mimic old-style beadwork of roses.

There were plenty of times when I came up with ideas and plenty of times when I failed, but that’s just life as a designer. When I sat in the studio, drafting patterns and trying my best to plot out my plan for hours, I had no idea the impact this collection would have on others.

I sew with passion, legacy, and a 100% drive to leave an impact on others. It was safe to say that was the final result at RES2026.

I firmly believe in continuous education and truly believe that the only competition in this world is my last project. I’m learning to balance and take care of myself while challenging myself to level up my skills and tailoring. As long as I’m a designer, I feel that this is something I’ll continue to pour into as long as I’m behind a sewing machine.

This collection brought me joy, pride, and a sense of worth. The models are the muses who bring these to life once they hit the runway. The photography continues to make that light shine, and the makeup, hairstylists, and styling are the icing on the cake that eloquently make this collection what it is. I’ll always be forever grateful for the talents that were taught to me by my matriarchs and the talent that collaborates with me. I pray that I still bring beauty to the world through my visions, and as each collection is born, so are all the relationships that come with it.

This is me living my dream.
📷-
Model-
MUA- .mua
HAIR -

This week, we will begin the revamp of our website, our lookbook, and prepare for the fall launch of this collection.
To complete this collection, we will need to add more garments, including jackets, pants, blouses, and more.

It is an exciting time at WABANOONKWE as we grow and develop into a stronger brand. We are committed to striving for excellence while uplifting everyone who collaborates with us along the way.

As I was raised by the community and I will always serve the community. I promise that you will always have a seat at my table. We believe in making res dreams come true!

My career has always been lead with love and as a designer I’ve bootstrapped so many of my ventures. I’m at the point in my career that I am now seeking partnerships, sponsors and investors.
For us to continue to grow we need support to keep reaching new levels.

Models:
MUA HAIR: .mua
Photography:
Location:

I truly enjoy traveling solo.

I know many people have messaged me on traveling tips and how can I afford it.

#1
I am a points saver… I collect as many points throughout the year on my cards and hotels.

#2
I work hard and a majority of these trips are paid for by the purchase of your earrings, workshops and bags!!!

#3
I like WORK-CATIONS. I plan work and vacations at destinations that I’ve always had a desire of visiting. So technically it’s a “two for one” kind of deal.

I very much enjoy visiting places I never imagined seeing first hand. Meeting people from around the world and making friends abroad intrigues me.
One of the things I like testing myself with is, trying to match the language to the country, then match the region. I’m not that great yet, but I’m getting better.

Honestly, for as long as I live I’ll always be an advocate of living your best life and scratching off those bucket list items.

(This is what being fearless and determined got me) ~>Ireland - England - Scotland - Spain - Italy - Sweden - Portugal

Beading:Sewing memories on the rez.

I remember as a child, I would watch my aunties and kukom sew as they sipped tea and slices of bannock sat on the counter while the table was coloured with beads and thread supplies spread across.
There was always laughter and smiles, it always seemed like perfection to me. A childhood memory I will always remember and deeply cherish.
To this day I think of my kukom, hoping I’m making her proud. All she ever wanted was for us to be happy and treat others kindly. She was one of my greatest Sheros, she was a style queen, Bead master, deadly chef, full of humour and full of pure love for humanity. I miss her dearly….. her legacy will always be remembered 🤎

ATTENTION ALL MODELS!! 📞 📲🔊

Have you ever dreamt of stepping into the spotlight as a brand model, whether you’re a budding star or a seasoned pro?
We warmly welcome all to apply, all shapes sizes ages are encouraged.
Kindly submit your CV (resume), a captivating photo, your measurements, and share your reasons for wishing to collaborate with an Indigenous designer.

MUST EMAIL AND FOLLOW IG to be added to our model listing.
IG-
Email- [email protected]
For submissions.
You Do Not Need To Be Indigenous To Apply, we accept everyone.