Project: Indigenous Art Journey (Craft & Art Marketplace Event)
Amanda Bernard used her Matchmaker MicroGrant to transition her successful online Indigenous marketplace, Shawish Market, into a vibrant, in-person community celebration. Her Indigenous Art Journey event included a vendor marketplace for nine Indigenous artists alongside a curated exhibit featuring everything from traditional moccasins to contemporary clay work, Amanda created a dedicated space for Indigenous artists and audiences to connect directly. The event’s success was anchored in its interactive nature; through hands-on beading workshops, she invited the broader community to engage deeply with Indigenous creative practices, fostering meaningful cross-cultural connections.
While Shawish Market continues to thrive online, this in-person experience provided a rare and valuable opportunity for Indigenous voices to take centre stage. Amanda captured the entire journey in a moving documentary, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how cultural expression can strengthen community pride and inspire future generations.
Want to support Mississauga Indigenous artists?
Shop Shawish Market: https://shawishmarket.com/
Our MicroGrant program is made possible through the efforts of dedicated volunteers through the Charitable Gaming program. Thank you Rama Gaming House, Mississauga Charitable Gaming Association, and Charitable Gaming. Community Good. for helping to fund artist-led projects!