Youth from Meadow Lake wearing Okema Clothing. Aiden Montour (left), Diana Ward, Breanna Chretien, Cody Montour, Destiny Perrilat, Kimmy Hudy and Jason Cardinal. (submitted photo/ Spark Images)

By Nicole Reis

Inspiring Entrepreneur

Local artist aims to empower community through fashion and music

Aug 26, 2020 | 5:00 PM

A Meadow Lake artist is looking to inspire and empower his community through fashion.

Cody Montour’s line, Okema Clothing, aims to spark conversations of social issues and Indigenous pride. The word ‘Okema’ is Cree for chief, boss or leader. The brand’s logo is meant to engage youth and generations to come, to feel empowered talking about their own realities.

“I want to instill a message of empowerment for Indigenous youth, or anyone who wears it, to feel empowered and be a leader,” he told meadowlakeNOW. “Anyone can be Okema and feel empowered wearing the clothing.”

Montour is a musician and entrepreneur involved in many projects from construction to youth leadership. He said developing a brand was unfamiliar territory.

“This was a big step for me as an Indigenous person to break out of my shell and really take a chance because a lot of people are afraid of failure,” he said. “That was exactly me.”

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While launching his brand, Montour wanted to inspire Indigenous youth to take steps toward starting their own business or developing an idea. His business partner, Destiny Millar and her husband Jason encouraged him to take the first step toward his passion and once he heard words of encouragement, he said there was no looking back.

Prior to becoming business partners, Millar and Montour had never met. She wanted to get involved with the brand after hearing about his intentions.

“It’s about Cody’s ideas and what Okema stands for which really brought me in,” she said. “When he told me what he was doing and how he was going to help, I wanted to be involved.”

Waterhen Lake residents dressed in Okema clothing. (Submitted photo/ Cody Montour)

Clay DeBray, owner of Snipe and Celly Pro Shop operates under the old saying – shopping local keeps the local economy healthy. He says helping to establish Montour’s brand is part of his mandate to support small and up-and-coming fashion entrepreneurs in the community.

“We’re in the same shoes, I still consider us a small business,” DeBray said. “With the three clothing brands we have here, every one of them gives back to the community.”

DeBray added he is willing to consult with future entrepreneurs who are looking to establish a clothing brand.

Okema customer, Joanne Dishko said she recently learned her great grandmother was Anishinaabe from Ontario and feels a connection to her roots when wearing the clothing. She says she fell in love with the headdress logo as she feels Montour is promoting a sense of united community through his brand.

“Cody is such a true soul and a great spirit,” Dishko said. “It’s easy to support him and his brand.”

Montour plans to use proceeds from each sale to build a fully equipped music studio for local youth. He said there is a lot of voice talent on Flying Dust First Nation and wants to offer youth a creative outlet to showcase their talents and heal through music. He has additional plans to tie his clothing line to social awareness campaigns including suicide awareness and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Okema Clothing recently expanded his line to include ladies apparel including t-shirts, sweaters, tank tops, sweatpants, leggings and a kids clothing line.

Okema is exclusively sold at Snipe and Celly Pro Shop at Pineridge Ford Arena or can be found online here.

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nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @nicolereis7722