Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs Inc. launches Nîkihk product line at Bee Plus Workplace Solutions

The word Nîkihk, meaning “my home” in the Plains Cree language, is the brand name for the products. The line includes hand soap, hand sanitizer, dish soap, laundry soap, bathroom cleaner, multi surface cleaner, and kitchen degreaser products.

Coun. Preston Weenie of Moosomin First Nation is also the president of the BATC Investments Board.

The product is also a good opportunity for economic development for BATC and has created many employment opportunities for First Nations, he says.

“We’re proud that it is actually going national,” Weenie said. “It’s getting big. I’ve heard so much positive response about the product.”

The makeup of the products is sourced locally and manufactured by First Nation peoples.

As well, profits from sales go back to First Nation communities.

“It benefits all our First Nation communities within BATC,” Weenie said. “At BATC, we have a good team that comes up with a lot of investment opportunities. This is just one of many.”

He said some new ideas unfolded from the pandemic and Nîkihk is one of them.

“Our BATC team and First Nations have found a way to reach out to communities,” he said. “It is a good product and everyone likes it.”

BATC also received federal support to start the Nîkihk line of products.

“ISC [Indigenous Services Canada] provided start-up funds, and they too realize this product is by First Nations and it’s First Nations owned. So it’s going a long way,” Weenie said.

The products are produced and packaged in Martensville, Sask., in a plant run by BATC, with all Indigenous employees.

Premier Scott Moe attended the product launch in Saskatoon earlier this month.

Weenie is glad to see all the support.

BATC director of operations Alexis Christensen said when the pandemic started, the organization had a difficult time finding adequate sanitation and cleaning products needed to stay safe during that time.

“We had to try to create our own products to address the demand,” she said, “and Nîkihk was born. Through that we had our Elders and staff guiding us along the way.”

All products are Saskatchewan-based, and include such ingredients as sage, saskatoon berry, sweetgrass and similar natural items.

“What was started to address the need of the pandemic has now grown into a company that has the potential to be a multimillion-dollar company,” she said. “So we are here in North Battleford. We are getting space in the Midtown Plaza (Saskatoon). We’re going to have a store front there starting Sept. 15.”

She added BATC is grateful that beePLUS is now partnering with the organization in the Battlefords.

Christensen said BATC partners with beePlus already for its business needs, so the fact that the company reciprocated the gesture and asked to have the Nîkihk products on their shelves “is a really good story of growing together.”

The product is also now available at Sobeys in select locations in Saskatchewan.

“It’s a major success story,” Christensen said. “The (Nîkihk) company is owned by Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs, which includes our seven First Nation communities. So we all have a stake in it. It’s just something to be proud of, that we never would have guessed. If you want to talk about silver linings in the pandemic, this is one for sure.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow

by Angela Brown

Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs Inc. launches Nîkihk product line at Bee Plus Workplace Solutions

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