Our Story
Makatew Workshops was founded in 2019 by Marc Forgette, a French Algonquin member of the Apitipi Anicinapek Nation (formerly Wahgoshig First Nation). His journey began as a personal search for identity and belonging, one that led him to discover his great aunt’s work as a leatherworker and his fourth-great-grandfather’s family name, Makatew—meaning “Black”—a name later lost through colonization.
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With a hunger for purpose and a vision to reclaim his heritage, Marc created Makatew Workshops as a way to share culture, knowledge, and tradition through hands-on experiences. Today, he pours his heart into facilitating workshops and speaking engagements that blend creativity with education, inviting others to learn, connect, and take part in reconciliation.
Our Mission
We champion Indigenous culture by providing transformative spaces to learn and create together. Our mission is to honour tradition, nurture Indigenous talent, and spark reconciliation through shared experience
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Makatew Workshops is based in Carp, Ontario, just outside Ottawa, where our facility serves as the heart of everything we do.
It’s where we design and assemble our products, host workshops, and welcome the community into a space built for learning, connection, and culture.
Our Space
