Giinwa Debahjmowin (Our Story)

Biindigen - Welcome to Ode’mini Giizis Coffee Co. and Café. We are an Anishinaabe-women-led company, selling ethical and locally roasted coffee beans, inside a cafe in Wallaceburg, Ontario. We contribute to shifting the economy with consciousness, one cup of coffee at a time. Our goal is to sell with conscious intentionality, where ethical trade and commerce lead to a thriving and sustainable future and that (re)builds community into a sphere of reciprocal abundance, one cup of coffee at a time.

 

A few years back, after experiencing Natem (also known as Ayahuasca) in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest outside of Macas, Ecuador under the spiritual guidance of the Chiriap family (Shuar Nation), my life was forever altered. That series of experiences, along with being inspired by a lifelong friend, Paula Naponse, owner of Beandigen Café in Ottawa, enboldened me to follow my dream and open Ode’mini Giizis Café, along with help from my daughter.

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The colour scheme of the café with the many shades of red, and the symbols and meaning of Ode’imin (the heart berry) were chosen to empower Indigenous women and all peoples. Red is a power colour and helps to root, ground and heal us. The strawberry is being used here to honour, and help shift us above and beyond the narrative of being targets of missing and murdered Indigenous people to a story of resurgence of mino bimaadiziwin (the good life). It's a good life, we all crave it and deserve to live it.

 

In essence, we strive each day at the Cafe to create a safe and empowering space for women and all people to gather and to simply be who we are, as Anishinaabeg and allies. Come relax and energize, while enjoying an ethical cup of deliciously balanced and freshly roasted coffee that supports women and small community co-operatives in Guatemala. Annually, a percentage of coffee bean sales will be donated back to earth and Indigenous people saving projects and causes globally.

 

Biindigen (come in) and welcome, please enjoy.