When Shayla Ouellette Stonechild sat down with Osamuskwasis — a Cree and Dene designer whose name means “young deer” — the conversation quickly revealed that her garments are more than clothing. They are a living archive: beadwork begun at age seven, teachings passed down through generations, and a practice that holds space for culture, healing, and sovereignty.

A Humble Start, a Powerful Vision Osamuskwasis launched her namesake brand in 2020 with just $500. That small investment became the seed for a design practice rooted in patience, matriarchal strength, and deep cultural connections. Her journey reminds us that fashion isn’t only about trends or commerce; it can be an act of storytelling and resilience.

Beadwork, Ceremony, and Meaning Beadwork—learned in childhood—remains central to her work. Each stitch, pattern, and color choice carries meaning: honoring hunters and warriors, marking relationships to land and community, and transmitting teachings. Rather than treating garments as objects, Osamuskwasis treats them as vessels of memory and ceremony, worn to celebrate identity and sustain culture.

Redefining Indigenous Fashion In conversation with Shayla, Osamuskwasis reframed Indigenous fashion as a form of cultural sovereignty. Her pieces challenge mainstream industry norms by centering Indigenous aesthetics, languages, and stories. The brand’s trajectory—from an initial $500 investment to recognition in publications like Vogue—shows how rooted practice and creative integrity can demand space on global stages.

Dreams and Collaborations While she dreams of future collaborations with global brands, her focus remains on community and continuity: learning from elders, sharing skills with younger makers, and designing with respect for tradition. Her newest collection pays tribute to hunters and warriors, continuing a lineage of clothing that honors those who sustain and protect life.

Why This Matters Osamuskwasis’s work stretches beyond garments into education and healing. Wearing her designs is an act of remembering and belonging, a way to carry forward teachings that empower future generations. Her story is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the sustaining power of Indigenous matriarchies.

Learn More

• Website: https://osamuskwasis.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/osamuskwasis/
• Vogue profile: https://www.vogue.com/article/osamuskwasis-roan-indigenous-fashion-designer
• Headshot: https://www.facebook.com/osamuskwasis/photos/june-29th-700-pm-mst/1146178432983012/

Listen to the full conversation with Shayla Ouellette Stonechild to hear more about how design, memory, and ceremony come together in Osamuskwasis’s powerful work.