Capilano Tea House challenges business in Coast Salish territory to donate to Kwi Awt Stelmexw. Kwi Awt Stelmexw as a non-profit organization is proud to work with companies that match our shared values. We especially want to support businesses owned and operated by Squamish People!

The Capilano Tea House and Botanical Soda Co. is a new business started by mother-daughter duo Michelle and Paisley Nahanee. For the month of December they operated a pop-up shop in Gastown.

The Capilano Tea House closed their pop-up shop doors on December 23rd, but watch out! They’ll be opening their permanent store in Gastown at 221 Abbott Street in Gastown on February 1, 2016. They told us that they “will be open from 11am to 7pm daily with a full ‘local meets global’ menu offering”.

Here’s what you need to know about this wonderful business:

The Capilano Tea House and Botanical Soda Company is Indigenous-owned and plant-inspired. We infuse the traditional local with the traditional global for a very Vancouver, curated flavour offering.

Simultaneously fresh and ancient, our teas pair local foods like Juniper Berries and Nettles with global favourites including Rooibos and Green teas.  Our delicious small-batch sodas mix florals with fruits: imagine lavender with ginger and rose petals with lemon for starters.

The Capilano is owned and operated by Michelle and Paisley Nahanee, a mother-daughter family from the Squamish Nation. We walk in two worlds, infusing the traditional teachings of our family throughout our contemporary business practices.

All their teas are available to purchase online at http://www.thecapilano.com/new-products with Canadian and US shipping options.

But here’s the best part: on December 31st, 2015, the Capilano Tea House shared this and issued a challenge to all local businesses operating in Coast Salish territory:

On December 31, 2015 we sent (Kwi Awt Stelmexw) 20% of our retail tea sales for December totalling $480.00. For the new year, we challenge First Nations and non-First Nations businesses and organizations operating in Coast Salish territory to match or beat our contribution. Let’s reconstruct the impact of business on Indigenous Peoples together. 

We hold our hands up to The Capilano Tea Company for making their generous donation to our Language Revitalization Fund. Our organization exists to do the work we do because of people who believe in our vision. Please support The Capilano Tea Company and support the Squamish People.

Would you donate $5 or $10 to help Squamish People revitalize the Squamish Language?

Yes, I would to contribute to the revitalization of the Squamish Language.

Are you a business that would like to talk about responding to this challenge and donate to Kwi Awt Stelmexw?

Yes, I am a business and would love to talk more.