Our Story

Christine Marie is a Métis and Filipino mother of two, award-winning entrepreneur, and the Founder & CEO of Awāsis Boutique. Awāsis meaning “child” in Cree, reflects the heart of the brand: honouring Indigenous language, culture and identity through meaningful design. Along with creating partnerships that reflect reconciliation in action while ensuring these relationships are ethically and respectfully carried out.

While taking time away from teaching to be a stay-at-home mother, Christine drew on her background in Home Economics and Native Studies to explore a new creative path. What began as sewing a few bibs and aprons for fellow moms, sparked by interest on social media, quickly grew into consistent demand. After researching the Canadian market, Christine discovered there were no Indigenous-inspired apparel brands dedicated to babies and children in Canada. That gap became the catalyst.

Just four months later, Awāsis Boutique launched in February 2018 as an online shop. Within months, the brand caught the attention of customers across the country with multiple sell outs and retailers across Saskatchewan and Alberta, leading to early partnerships with various retail spaces. What started at a kitchen table has since grown into a nationally recognized brand, earning Christine honours such as CBC’s Top 40 Under 40, SOAR pitch competition winner, YWCA Woman of Distinction, the WESK Indigenous Entrepreneur Award + more.

Today, Awāsis Boutique offers apparel and lifestyle goods for the entire family and their allies, Indigenous-designed for all. The brand has expanded to include bulk and custom orders, collaborative merchandise and guest speaking and workshop services. In 2023, Awāsis opened its first retail storefront in Saskatoon, and in 2025 faced the Dragons on Dragons Den, further amplifying its mission and reach.

Representation matters. When you support Awāsis Boutique, you are not only investing in quality, thoughtfully designed products, you are contributing to Indigenous language revitalization, cultural education and meaningful community impact. Through initiatives such as the Every Child Matters campaigns and collaborative fundraising efforts, Awāsis Boutique has donated over $120,000 back into the community as of 2025. Supported by a growing team, the brand continues to create change, one product at a time.

Awāsis Boutique is proudly rooted in Saskatoon and welcomes the community into its retail space at 870 Broadway Avenue, open 10am-3pm Monday to Friday.

Highlights:

CBCs Top 40 under 40 finalist in 2019, New Business Venture nominee for Sabex Awards 2020, New Business of the year 1st place for WMBEXA 2020, WESK- Women Entrepreneurs of SK, Indigenous Award Finalist 2021, RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur nominee 2021, The Jilly Box add on partnership 2022, SREDA Soar Pitch recipient- 1st place winner 2022, SABEX Finalist- Entrepreneurship category 2022, SABEX Winner- Mistahi Mamîcîhîtowin Award 2022, WESK Indigenous Entrepreneur Winner 2023, NSBA finalist 2024, YWCA Women of Distinction Nominee 2025, Dragons Den contestant 2025.

Organizations we've worked with:

Discover Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Huskie Athletics, Nutrien, MNP, The Jilly Box, BHP, Nexgen Energy, Saskatchewan Rattlers, Affinity Credit Union, SIIT, Métis Nation SK, Orano, UBC Built, First Nations Bank of Canada, Métis Nation of ON, University of Saskatchewan, Federal Government, First Nations University of Canada, Saskatoon City Police and more.