Oshichikesiwuk Nanipek

Tessa Pizzale is a 23 year old Indigenous artist from Moose Factory, ON. She grew up in NorthBay, ON and is currently going to Nipissing University for her Bachelor of Fine Arts. She has done many different local projects from designing murals and logos for local university and college institutions to spray painting murals for local indigenous businesses. She has multiple published books that she has illustrated in. This year, she was elected to be the North Eastern Youth Representative for the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres. She does a lot within the indigenous community that she lives in, having sewing, painting and craft workshops at her local Indigenous Friendship Centre.

Tessa first started leather belt making in late December 2022 when making her sister a Christmas gift. Since then, her knowledge and talents when working with leather has grown as she now has a large array of different belt styles in which to choose from. She loves working with leather and being able to create pieces that have significant meaning her Indigenous customers. To Tessa, these are not fashion pieces, they are sacred pieces that are used during sacred times or used in Regalia in Pow Wows or Round Dances. Some belts that have been created have been based off of the person’s spirit name or their syllabics and has been able to have a large connection to them.