Manitoulin Brewing rooted in proud Indigenous heritage

“Manitoulin Island is a unique, beautiful place. It’s the largest freshwater island in the world, there’s water everywhere, and it’s densely populated with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities,” says Nishin Meawasige, co-owner of the Manitoulin Brewing Company (MBC).

“Manitoulin” is an Ojibwe word meaning “great spirit.” The island is in Lake Huron, and those who visit instantly appreciate the deeper meaning of its Indigenous name.

For Nishin, the island is the inspiration for MBC, the independent craft brewery he co-founded with friend Blair Hagman in 2015. In 2019, the pair brought on a third partner, Holden Rhodes, and the three of them are building on previous successes and looking to bring more MBC products to all of Ontario and beyond.

Manitoulin Island and the surrounding area are home base, and the brewery is an extension of the place they cherish. “The branding behind our products is all based on landmarks here on the island,” shares Nishin.

“We’re promoting the island to the world. These are real places with real stories that people can learn about and experience when they come to Manitoulin Island.”

Celebrating Sisters project

One way the brewery is giving back to its community is by joining the Celebrating Sisters project created by members of a group called the Indigenous Brew Crew. MBC is one of 43 craft breweries raising money on Indigenous Brew Day for organizations supporting and empowering Indigenous women and girls.

They’ve brewed a special beer for the occasion called Ode’imin, which means strawberry in Ojibwe. Sales start in summer 2021, with proceeds going to a local non-profit group, Manitoulin Streams. The non-profit is creating a summer program focused on young women and youth, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, and their role as water keepers protecting waterways on and surrounding Manitoulin Island.

Ode’imin Strawberry Beer, Manitoulin Brewing Company

“We had Mariah Meawasige, a female Indigenous artist who works under her company name, Makoose, design the artwork on the can,” says Nishin. “Supporting Indigenous women preserving our precious water resources here on Manitoulin are important to us and a way for us to support our communities.”

Always thinking about the details, the MBC also came up with an augmented reality customer experience for the Ode’imin can design, a first for an Ontario craft beer product and another way to deliver something innovative to their customers and help raise money for an important cause.

“We’re excited to be dipping our feet into the virtual realm of augmented reality with the Ode’imin can design. These are new waters for all of us, so we’re very interested to see how it impacts our customers and ultimately increases the success of our cause.”

That deep commitment to the community has been a part of MBC’s approach from the beginning.

Nishin says it’s been a whirlwind of a journey since he and Blair first reconnected while standing in a craft beer line at a music festival in Guelph... Read More