A place of unique cree-ation
THE BEGINNING
Growing back into the old traditions of my people
Aanii-boozhoo! My name is Calista Paul, although I must say I prefer friends to call me Callie. I'm a 23-year old mother of one crazy lil rez kid. I am also an Indigenous beading artist of Ojibwe, Algonquin and Plains Cree descent, I am registered to Temagami First Nation - my beloved home community.
Back in 2019, I started this business as means to support my daughter, Arya "Odemin." When I had her at the age of 17, I had one goal in mind upon looking at her sweet little face each and everyday after that. To live a good life with her and to spend it teaching her the amazing traditions and knowledge of our people. For myself, I had the opportunity to grow up dancing at powwows, singing and drumming with my own drums that my family made, having adventures on the beautiful lake I get to live on, and just overall living a good Teme-Augama Anishnaabe life on my home reserve. There's nothing more I could want than to give that to my Arya Grace. But I didn't have much for myself at that time at the fresh-age of 18, only a decent amount of knowledge, very few beading supplies and a pinch of time to spare. It all started with making 6 fringe earrings to raise money to get supplies to make my daughter's first regalia. In the end, she got her regalia that summer and I got a new idea that grew bigger and bigger right along with her as she did.
I have big dreams of working in healthcare in the future as a PSW and nurse, as well as a great mom, aunt, godmother, wife and friend to the real precious and deadly people in my life. During that whole process though, I'm more than happy to say I'll be an artist to support my own dream as well as any dreams my daughter and husband come up with in our rather hectic and full lives together.
Here at Odemin's Creeations, I put lots of love into what I do, and I have probably the greatest little assistant with me through every step of the way. We welcome you fully and hope you come to love our Creeations. Greatest thanks to you all, or as we like to say: CHI-MIIGWETCH!
