Dbaajmowin – SpruceLab

July 23, 2025

Dbaajmowin (story/narrative, Ojibwe Eastern and Odawa dialect) is an Indigenous-led artist collective that evolved through a sharing of conversations about creating places for people, and the lack of Indigenous designs and stories in this work. Through co-design, Dbaajmowin seeks to understand Indigenous needs in public realm and interior spaces, and to respond to these learnings with beautiful and innovative design solutions.

The collective includes Anishinaabeg artist Amber Smith Quail, Algonquin artist Karl Chevrier, Haudenosaunee furniture designer Ashley MacDonald, Québecois sculptor Jacques Baril, and SpruceLab designer Sheila Boudreau, with support from the SpruceLab team. Dbaajmowin has expertise designing public art installations and site furnishings, including the development of supporting materials to share their stories in meaningful and culturally appropriate ways. Training and business opportunities for Indigenous Peoples and businesses are sought throughout the supply chain for this work. More information about the members of the collective and examples of their art and design work are shared below.

See Dbaajmowin’s first public art sculpture, Nbi Ayaa Mshkiki (“Water is Medicine” – Anishinaabemowin), unveiled Nov. 3, 2023, at Rotary Frenchman’s Bay Park West, Pickering, ON, here.