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Indigenous-owned · Saskatoon, Treaty 6 · Shipping across Canada
An introduction to Thunder Bay: its history, the Nations whose lands it sits on, and Indigenous community life today, with sources.
It lies on Anishinaabe territory covered by the Robinson-Superior Treaty of 1850, beside Fort William First Nation, and has the highest proportion of Indigenous residents among major Canadian cities. Nishnawbe Aski Nation, representing 51 First Nations in Treaty 9 and Treaty 5 territory, keeps its administrative offices in the city. The Fort William First Nation Powwow takes place each summer at Anemki Wajiw, also known as Mount McKay, and Anishinaabe Keeshigun celebrates culture and language every August. The Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre also serves the urban community. The Ojibway of Fort William First Nation signed the Robinson-Superior Treaty and still live on the lake’s western shore. Fort William First Nation has since renewed its 1988 band membership code as part of a five-year constitutional development plan.
Thunder Bay is on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabe of Fort William First Nation, covered by the Robinson-Superior Treaty of 1850.
Nearby: Fort William First Nation · Red Rock Indian Band · Oliver Paipoonge · Shuniah · Neebing
Many young people from northern First Nations come to Thunder Bay for high school. The Northern Nishnawbe Education Council was founded in 1978 on the principle that Indigenous people should be able to self-determine their youth's education. It operates Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School in the city, alongside Pelican Falls First Nations High School and the Wahsa Distance Education Centre. It serves young people from Sioux Lookout District First Nations who study away from their home reserves, and oversees boarding homes for them. At Lakehead University, the Indigenous Student Services Centre supports students on the Thunder Bay campus. The university also runs the Niijii Indigenous Mentorship program, a Global Indigenous Speakers Series and an Indigenous Content Requirement. Fort William First Nation describes its mission as promoting the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being of its people. It manages Anemki Wajiw through its property management department and says its sovereignty rests in its relationship with the land. Indigenous art has a public home here too. The Thunder Bay Art Gallery focuses on contemporary work by Indigenous and Northern Ontario artists. Its permanent collection holds more than 1,800 works, including pieces by Norval Morrisseau.
More on the region: Indigenous Ontario · 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 Thunder Bay and across Robinson-Superior Treaty territory.
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 Thunder Bay and across Robinson-Superior Treaty territory. 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 Thunder Bay 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 Thunder Bay. 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 Thunder Bay.
Yes. Orders ship from Saskatoon, leaving within 1–3 business days, with shipping cost calculated at checkout. Spend $90 or more and shipping within Canada is free.
Local pickup is available only in Saskatoon, so Thunder Bay orders are shipped to you.
Yes. Custom screen printing starts at 10 garments, with up to 4 colours per design, and every order is quoted before printing. Design help is included. We print in Saskatoon and ship to Thunder Bay, so give yourself extra time before graduation or a tournament.
Our designs carry Cree words, shared with their stories on our meanings page, because we are a Indigenous-owned company from Saskatoon. We do not make Anishinaabemowin designs or speak for Anishinaabe culture. A Thunder Bay group that wants its own design can use our custom printing, which includes design help.
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 Thunder Bay.
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.
