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Indigenous-owned · Saskatoon, Treaty 6 · Shipping across Canada
An introduction to Sherbrooke: its history, the Nations whose lands it sits on, and Indigenous community life today, with sources.
Lac des Nations and Mont-Bellevue Park bring green space into the centre. The W8banaki, or Abenaki, knew the meeting of these rivers as Ktinékétolékouac, meaning the large forks. The Saint-François River, called Alsig8ntegw in W8banaki, also flows past Odanak. The W8banaki Nation describes Sherbrooke and Estrie as the heart of Ndakina, its ancestral territory. The W8banaki Nation says this limits access for hunting, trapping and passing on culture. Sherbrooke sits within Ndakina, the ancestral territory of the W8banaki Nation, which the Odanak Abenaki Council describes as running roughly from Rivière-du-Loup to the Richelieu River and from the St. Lawrence south towards Boston. That territory takes in the Eastern Townships and the Saint-François River watershed, and the Odanak community itself overlooks the Saint-François further downstream. Research is still underway to define the boundaries more precisely and to trace the population movements behind them.
Sherbrooke lies within Ndakina, the ancestral territory of the W8banaki (Abenaki) Nation, whose communities today are Odanak and Wôlinak. The Nation describes Estrie as the heart of that territory.
Nearby: Magog · Lennoxville · North Hatley · Mont-Orford National Park · Coaticook · Richmond
The W8banaki Nation has more than 3,000 members across Odanak and Wôlinak. Since 1999, hunting and trapping agreements with Quebec have covered parts of Ndakina. The Nation asserts ancestral rights across the whole territory. The Grand Conseil de la Nation Waban-Aki represents both communities. In Sherbrooke, much Indigenous work happens through higher education. In autumn 2022, the Université de Sherbrooke launched an undergraduate microprogram in Indigenous studies. It was developed with the Conseil des Abénakis d'Odanak and the Grand Conseil de la Nation Waban-Aki. The program highlights Abenaki, which the university calls one of the most endangered Indigenous languages in Canada. It also aims to make university more accessible for First Nations students. In August 2025, the university and the Cégep de Sherbrooke held a summer school on W8banaki communities in the 19th century. About 20 students worked with archives and visited Odanak to learn from community experts. The W8banaki Nation and Bishop's University were partners. The Nation approved the project's outputs, which were shared on a public web platform.
More on the region: Indigenous Quebec · all of Canada.
XUSI is an Indigenous-owned business from Saskatoon, started in 2020 by two brothers from northern Saskatchewan. Along with our clothing, we bring Indigenous youth workshops and custom screen printing to Sherbrooke and across Quebec.
Strong Roots Strong Future is our interactive workshop for Indigenous youth, led by the two brothers who founded XUSI. We travel to schools, First Nations and Indigenous communities, youth organizations and funding programs in Sherbrooke and across Quebec. Youth ages 10 and up work through identity and culture, financial literacy, fitness, entrepreneurship and business skills, career readiness and hands-on screen printing.
Custom t-shirts, hoodies and crewnecks for Sherbrooke schools, sports teams, businesses, events and First Nations and Indigenous organizations. Send us an idea, get free design help and a full quote before anything is printed. We print in Saskatoon and ship to Sherbrooke. 10-garment minimum, up to 4 colours per design.
Heavyweight cotton tees, hoodies, crewnecks and A-frame hats with Cree words and the stories behind them. Fitness is part of how XUSI started, so our pieces are built for the gym and the street, and we ship them to Sherbrooke.
Orders of $90 or more ship free to Sherbrooke and anywhere in Canada. Orders under $90 show the shipping cost at checkout. Every order leaves our Saskatoon shop within 1 to 3 business days.
Yes. Custom screen printing starts at 10 garments, with up to 4 colours per design. Every order gets a full quote before anything is printed, and design help is included. We print in Saskatoon and ship the order to Sherbrooke.
No. We have no store, stockist or event booth in Sherbrooke or elsewhere in Estrie. Outside our online shop, our only retail presence is at Wanuskewin near Saskatoon. Sherbrooke customers order online, and orders over $90 ship free.
Last reviewed . Facts on this page come from the sources listed below.
XUSI began with a gap: gym clothes that carried Indigenous identity instead of leaving it at the door. That is still the centre of the line, and it ships from Saskatoon to Sherbrooke.
The tees, hoodies and hats are designed by two Indigenous brothers on Treaty 6. Start with Indigenous gym wear, or see what every word means on the Meanings page.
