Bougie Birch

08/11/2026

A table full of dreamcatchers, each one completely different. That’s kind of the point. 🤎

Bougie Birch private workshops bring groups together through making, storytelling, and shared experience. Participants learn about the origins and cultural significance of the dreamcatcher while creating one of their own, with plenty of room for conversation, creativity, and connection along the way.

It’s hands-on Indigenous-led learning that doesn’t feel like sitting through a presentation — because sometimes the best conversations happen when our hands are busy.

We offer private workshops for teams, organizations, conferences, community groups, schools, and special gatherings.

Looking for something meaningful to bring your group together? Book a private Bougie Birch workshop.
Send us a DM to start the conversation. 🪶

08/02/2026

Summer so far at Bougie Birch ☀️

Workshops, markets, kits, community, good conversations, and a whole lot happening behind the scenes.

Somehow it’s already August, so here’s a little look at what we’ve been up to so far.



Some of our go-to books we bring along to workshops for participants to check out.

Work and FIFA. ⚽️

Research and development 🧪

We hold berries near and dear to our heart ❤️ 🍓

Traditional materials education moment 🌳

Successful prototype testing ✅️

That good medicine 🌬

International knowledge sharing 📚

A special class ✨️

Be proud of who you are every month. It's sacred 🌈

View from the top 😍

We can celebrate our differences while still being united 🪶

Nurturing curiosity to foster understanding 🫶🏼

Indigenous women and girls in Canada are 6.5 times more likely to be victims of homicide than non-Indigenous women, according to data from Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada.

Not saying Sabe is a Bougie Birch fan, but the evidence is right there.

A little reminder from the end of the canoe: you are still being carried forward.

Every journey has a way of teaching you as you go. Sometimes the point is not to know the whole route from the beginning, but to keep moving with care, pay attention to what carries you, and trust that each part of the path has something to show you.

08/02/2026

07/30/2026

07/24/2026

My work is often described as a dreamcatcher workshop, but that isn't actually what I'm offering. The dreamcatcher is the vehicle, not the destination.

Participants certainly learn about the dreamcatcher's Ojibwe origins and leave having made one themselves. But the workshop is ultimately about something much broader: understanding Indigenous diversity, challenging pan-Indigenous assumptions, exploring how cultures evolve and interact, reflecting on commercialization and cultural responsibility, and creating space for honest conversation. The dreamcatcher provides a shared, hands-on experience through which those conversations can happen.

For that reason, my work is not intended to replace an Ojibwe-led teaching about the dreamcatcher. It is a distinct educational experience with different learning objectives. The finished craft is simply one tool among many used to foster understanding.

07/22/2026

History is rarely as simple as we hope it will be.

The story of the dreamcatcher is no exception.

In our newest article, we explore the dreamcatcher's Ojibwe origins, Lakota traditions, relationships between Indigenous Nations, commercialization, and the responsibilities that come with sharing Indigenous knowledge.

Because understanding begins when we're willing to look beyond a single story.

📖 Read the full article:
https://bougiebirch.shop/blogs/birch-bulletin/who-is-allowed-to-teach-the-dreamcatcher-exploring-history-relationships-and-responsibility

07/20/2026

Why the dreamcatcher?

The dreamcatcher is one of the most recognizable Indigenous cultural objects in the world, yet it's also one of the most misunderstood.

That's why every workshop begins with its Ojibwe origins.

From there, the conversation grows. We explore how Indigenous Nations are diverse, how teachings have travelled through relationships over time, why cultural context matters, and how appreciation begins with learning.

The craft is simply the invitation.

The real experience is the conversation.

At Bougie Birch, we believe understanding is built through curiosity, honesty, and relationship. That means being transparent about where teachings come from, acknowledging the Nation they belong to, and creating space for meaningful dialogue rather than reinforcing the idea that Indigenous Peoples are all the same.

That's how we create understanding.

07/14/2026

Join us at Cre8 Space on Sparks Street for an Indigenous-led guided conversation and hands-on dreamcatcher-making session with Bougie Birch. 🪶

We’ll begin with the dreamcatcher’s Ojibwe roots, then explore its history, meaning and the different cultural contexts it has moved through over time. The conversation can also expand into broader themes connected to the lived experiences of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, depending on the questions and reflections that arise in the room.

Ashley will guide participants step by step through creating their own dreamcatcher. No previous crafting experience is required, all tools and materials are included, and everyone will leave with a completed piece of their own.

Come ready to listen, ask questions, create and leave with both something meaningful you made and a deeper understanding of the stories and contexts surrounding it.

📍 Cre:8 Space, 300 Sparks Street
📅 Thursday, July 23
⏰ 4:00–6:00 p.m.
🎟️ $60 per person
✨ Limited Buy One, Get One Free tickets available!

Hands-on. Meaningful. Connected.

Tickets: https://BougieDreamcatcherWorkshop.eventbrite.ca or Link In Bio