Tesler Mosquito is hoping to bring his community and those surrounding it. (Submitted Photo/ Daylan Perillat, Treaty 6ix Photographer)

By Josh Ryan

Treaty 6ix

Local entrepreneur finds success launching apparel brand

Sep 10, 2020 | 8:00 AM

While the outlook for many during the COVID-19 pandemic may have become increasingly negative, one young entrepreneur is looking to uplift his community and province.

Tesler Mosquito launched Treaty 6ix this summer, an apparel brand meant to uplift and unite both Indigenous communities and their neighbours, while walking in clothes that reflect the history and story of the land. After starting sales of hoodies in late July, he made around $30,000 in six weeks.

“It exploded pretty quickly,” Mosquito said.

Born and raised in Mosquito First Nation, the Saskatoon resident was finishing his teaching degree at the University of Saskatchewan, where he had started to take aspects of what he learned about connecting Indigenous youth with their heritage and tried putting it into music.

“That’s when I found my purpose in how I want to uplift the Indigenous community and whoever is around me and who I talk to,” Mosquito said.

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He focused on Treaty 6, the agreement signed by Crown representatives and Indigenous leaders in 1876, and combined it with a reference similar to how people native to Toronto refer to the city. He said that imaging and wording has been key in attracting potential customers.

“It’s mainstream, so I’m bringing that mainstream seal with some history and combining it,” he said.

(Submitted Photo/ Daylan Perillat, Treaty 6ix Photographer)

His start in the world of business was aided by another successful entrepreneur in Kendall Netmaker, who encouraged him to pursue the brand and provided important advice.

“How to start my brand, what printing company to use,” Mosquito said. “I’d bring him my ideas and he’d give me a clear vision of [what to focus on].”

The signing of the treaties is something that Mosquito is passionate about, both for its impact on Indigenous people and the relationship they have with the rest of Canada. He hopes to bring something positive to the conversation, as well as uplift people during the pandemic.

“Especially with suicides and stuff like that being up,” he said. “Trying to bring some light to people’s lives.”

Having that conversation in more depth hasn’t occurred yet, because of how busy Mosquito has been since launching Treaty 6ix. He’s found great traction at small events, such as horse races in Poundmaker, and is already getting requests for youth sizes of other clothing items. For now, he’s adding hats and continuing to focus on hoodies. Eventual plans for the university grad include getting back into creating music and providing media content to explain his purpose in creating Treaty 6ix.

“My plan is to release videos about what my brand is really about and diversity and how we’re all treaty people, and tell that story,” he said. “But my hoodies have been selling out and [it’s a lot of time to invest when] I have to fold them all myself.”

There’s also people asking for apparel in other regions that would reflect Treaty Four and Treaty 10. But for Mosquito, it’s one thing at a time.

“I’ve gotta create my brand first, so I’m focusing on that.”

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josh.ryan@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports