The strip mall along Meadowlark Boulevard in Île-des-Chênes has a new business, Shoni Cree’s, a small family gift shop that specializes in Indigenous giftware.

“This is just sort of like coming home to semi-retire,” says Mike Lafrenier, co-owner of Shoni Cree’s.

Lafrenier and his wife Karen opened the gift shop with the help of their daughter Vanessa. The store itself was named after Lafrenier’s granddaughter, Vanessa’s daughter, Shoni Cree. Retirement is on the way for Lafrenier, and he hopes to pass the store on to his daughter one day. He himself is a businessman and wants to share his entrepreneurial passion.

“I have another store up north at Norway House Cree Nation,” he says. “But I’ve worked in this area for years and years.”

While his wife grew up on Rosseau River Ojibway Nation, Lafrenier is home-grown, having called this area home for many generations. He is pleased to have had the opportunity to live and work in Île-des-Chênes, where he has a lot of family.

Lafrenier is very proud of his Metis heritage and his store is packed with Canadian-made goods that showcase his cultural pride. Shoni Cree’s has many unique products, including handmade soaps, leather bracelets, and moccasins.

Although there are many locally sourced products to choose from, Lafrenier still acknowledges that he has a favourite.

“I have a line of mukluks out of Quebec,” he says. “They are quite nice… and they’re made in Canada. I like to stick with as much as possible domestic suppliers.”

The shop’s grand opening happened back on October 12, but a major unseasonal snowstorm derailed the event. Despite the whiteout, however, he was determined to open for business.

“It did affect us,” says Lafrenier. “People are still asking when the grand opening is. I said I’d do another one after Christmas.”

Like many small business owners, Lafrenier hopes his business does well as the holiday season comes into full force. He says business at his gift shop has been steady.