Born out of necessity during the pandemic, an Indigenous Sask. cleaning supply company looks beyond COVID-19
The president of a new Indigenous soap and cleaning product company says he hopes consumers across Saskatchewan and beyond will switch brands and make Nikihk products regular staples in their homes.
“We think there’s going to be more production. We think it’s going to go into a national product,” said Nikihk company president Neil Sasakamoose.
Nikihk is a cree word for “my home” and the name of a cleaning company founded by the Battleford Agency of Tribal Chiefs on behalf of seven first nations, less than a year ago.
Neil Sasakamoose says First Nations in the North Battleford area couldn’t find sanitation supplies to buy in the first part of the Covid-19 pandemic. This led the Battleford Agency of Tribal Chiefs to source their own supplies and eventually led them to form a company to create their own brand of hand sanitizer complete with sweet grass scent.
“We thought narrowly at first. We thought we are just providing our own households on reserves an opportunity to be safe during the pandemic, but now this is a great opportunity,” said Sasakamoose.
To date, the company has has manufactured 70,000 Nikihk sample packages. They consist of seven products such as sanitizer, hand lotion, dish soap, kitsch degreaser and bathroom cleaner.
The Nikihk sample kits are being distributed to all people who get a Covid-19 vaccination at one of the urban Indigenous Covid-19 vaccination centres in Saskatoon, North Battleford and Prince Albert.
Some of the funding for the Covid-19 kits was provided by Indigenous Services Canada and serves partially as a reconciliation gift, says Sasakamoose.
About 20,000 kits have been given out at vaccine clinics to members of the public like Harneet Kaur.
“If they started a new businesses, it’s good for them to give the free samples and so if people like it they will obviously purchase it for themselves,” said Kaur.
The kit includes a survey card asking people to try the product and email them back a photo of the paper survey.
“Now this is a great marketing opportunity for us. People are picking it up now. It’s in demand,” said Sasakamoose.
The Sobey’s grocery store in Preston Crossing became the first major retailer to sell Nikihk products in its store.
“There’s been many calls from companies across Canada that would like to carry an Indigenous product like Nikihk,” Sasakamoose said.
The company’s production plant is located in Cormand Industrial Park North of Saskatoon, SK.
Twenty people work full time with the company. The number of employees rises to about 50 during peak production and distribution.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.