Christine Marie

Founder + CEO, Awasis Boutique | Award-Winning Indigenous Entrepreneur

Community Building Entrepreneurs Female Business Leaders Female Speakers

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Topics

Creativity Entrepreneurship Indigenous History & Affairs

Types

Indigenous Speakers

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About This Speaker

Christine Marie is an award-winning entrepreneur, speaker, and Filipino/Métis mother of two. She is the founder of Awāsis Boutique, which she launched in February 2018 as an online shop. Awāsis, meaning “child” in Cree, reflects Christine’s vision to connect children and families to Indigenous language and culture through accessible, meaningful design. The brand quickly became the first Indigenous-inspired baby and children’s fashion shop in Canada.

Recognizing a significant gap in Indigenous-inspired clothing for babies and children in Canada, Christine set out to create products that were both culturally meaningful and educational. What began with hand-sewn baby bibs, aprons, and blankets soon expanded to include onesies and toddler apparel featuring Cree language phrases. As demand grew, Awāsis Boutique evolved into a nationally recognized brand offering apparel and accessories for the entire family, each piece being intentional, educational and a conversation starter.

Today, Awāsis Boutique now carries over 50 different products and has collaborated with over 40 organisations. In September 2022, Christine transitioned the business to full-time operations and now employs a growing team. In May 2025, Christine faced the Dragons in Dragons Den, Canada.

A teacher by training with no formal background in business or marketing, Christine’s entrepreneurial journey is rooted in community, purpose and lived experience. Giving back remains central to her work. As of 2025, over $120,000 has been given to community initiatives.

Christine is deeply committed to Indigenous language revitalization, cultural education, reconciliation and building meaningful partnerships that create lasting, positive change.

Speaking Topics: Christine Marie

Reconciliation and Leadership: Building a Stronger Workplace Together Fostering Respect, Understanding and Collaboration

This talk explores how reconciliation can become a powerful leadership practice that strengthens workplace culture. Christine Marie shares practical strategies for fostering respectful relationships, creating space for Indigenous perspectives, and building teams grounded in trust and understanding. Through real examples and actionable steps, Christine shows organizations how reconciliation-driven leadership leads to stronger collaboration, healthier communication and a more inclusive and resilient workforce.

Rooted in Culture, Driven by Vision: Identity, Community, Tradition, and Resilience in Indigenous Entrepreneurship

This keynote highlights how grounding a business in Indigenous identity, cultural pride, and community connection can fuel meaningful and sustainable growth. Christine Marie shares how honoring traditions, carrying forward ancestral knowledge, and embracing collective resilience shaped her entrepreneurial path and strengthened her leadership. Audiences gain insight into how culture-centered visioning can inspire innovation, deepen purpose, and create businesses that uplift both people and community.

Rising Against the Odds: Resilience in Leadership and Life: Lessons from a Woman Founder and CEO

This talk shares Christine’s journey of staying resilient while building a business in spaces not designed for people like her. She speaks about navigating bias, overcoming barriers, and finding strength in identity, values, and self-determination. Audiences gain practical, heartfelt insights on how to stay grounded, push forward with confidence, and turn challenges into motivation. No matter what obstacles stand in the way.