A Few Gift Ideas That Are Anything But Boring...

I just finished making my pumpkin soups and already the holiday season is knocking at my door. Honestly, just thinking about organizing the festivities, the activities, and especially the gifts gives me a bit of vertigo. And of course, there's always that ironic little twist: being last minute but absolutely refusing to give a boring gift.

If you're anything like me, don't panic. In this article, I'm sharing a few easy-to-find gift ideas that are meaningful and definitely not boring!

Wachiya Store

Wachiya is a Cree social enterprise showcasing authentic Eeyou Istchee craftsmanship in collaboration with the Cree Native Arts & Crafts Association. Together, they guarantee not only the authenticity of the creations but also fair income for artisans.

Each piece is made with care and carries a rich heritage: know-how, traditions, and Eeyou identity. You'll find artwork, traditional items (snowshoes, crooked knives, tamarack geese, etc.), and a beautiful selection of clothing, accessories, and jewelry featuring unique colours, textures, and motifs.

Personally, I have a soft spot for their earrings and they always earn me lots of compliments! The prices may seem high at first glance, but once you understand the origin of each creation, the artist behind it, the company's values, the impact of buying local, and the importance of cultural preservation, everything shifts. The price becomes almost secondary.

In short, gifting one of their products means offering something unforgettable and why not slip one into your own shopping basket while you're at it? And if you're unsure, they also offer gift cards!

Their products are available online, but also in their brand-new boutique in Old Montreal, where they regularly host events and workshops celebrating Eeyou culture.

A VäHumania™ Experience

Recently awarded the 2025 Tourism Excellence Award in the Innovation & Product Development - Network category, VäHumania™ brings together a network of deeply human tourism experiences in Eeyou Istchee Baie-James. Put simply: these are activities led by passionate people who share their knowledge, their craft, their art, and their corner of the region.

I've already taken part in several activities myself :
📍Chibougamau:

• Felted-wool mushroom crafting with artist Marianne Dumas
• Stargazing with Pierre Bureau, an astronomer and absolutely captivating guide

📍Chapais:

• Industrial tour of BoreA Canada with Jean-Claude, founder, co-owner, president, director, distiller, basically the one-man orchestra behind a brilliant circular-economy business. Psst, the company also offers several products that make truly perfect gifts!
• Glass mosaic workshop in Jocelyne Grondin's bright lakeside studio on Lake Opémiska

📍Lebel-sur-Quévillon:

• Clay bas-relief creation using NTFPs during Empreinte des lieux, guided by multidisciplinary artist Stacy-Ann Oliver and joined by Marie & Sam

And I even sent Isabelle from AuQuéb and her family all the way to Radisson for a writing workshop with Hélène Desgranges, an incredibly generous facilitator.

The verdict? The authenticity of the facilitators changes everything. You learn a thousand things without pressure, you make the most unexpected creations, and above all, you meet real, genuine people. That's what makes each activity so precious.

Better yet : you can offer a VäHumania™ gift card for an experience totally out of the ordinary. Facilitators are currently on a well-deserved break, but once new dates are announced, you'll be able to book any activity with the gift card. And a little scoop: new experiences, led by new people, are on the way!

FaunENord

At FaunENord, you'll find a unique lineup of products featuring their branding, as well as tasty local treats and educational materials about northern flora and fauna.

You'll discover beauty products made with local plants, bags of dried mushrooms including the famous matsutake and crab mushroom, and a great variety of teas for all tastes.

My favourites? The Flore boréale herbal tea and the Douceur boréale mix, a truly unique hot chocolate partly made with maple-scented milk cap mushroom powder.

FaunENord has also just launched a new holiday promotion featuring curated gift bundles! Four options are available, including two brand-new products: Mushroom Salt and Boreal Spices.

• The Curious ($35) - 1 bag of crab mushrooms, 1 bag of matsutake mushrooms, and 1 bag of Mushroom Salt
• The Thoughtful ($35) - 1 bag of Boreal Spices, 1 bag of Douceur boréale (hot chocolate), and 1 bag of Labrador tea
• The Adventurous ($65) - 1 bag of morels, 1 bag of Douceur boréale (hot chocolate), 1 bag of Casse-grippette herbal tea, 1 bag of Mushroom Salt, and 1 jar of wild cedar jelly
• The Bold ($95) - 1 bag of morels, 1 bag of Douceur boréale (hot chocolate), 1 bag of P'tit Glacé (iced tea), 1 bag of Labrador tea, 1 bag of matsutake mushrooms, 1 bag of crab mushrooms, 1 bag of Mushroom Salt, 1 bag of Boreal Spices, and 1 jar of Labrador tea jelly

To order one or more of these products, simply fill out this short form.

A Stay at Nibiischii or Chibougamau Aventure 

Okay, this might be one of my favourite options because it lets people experience the region firsthand. And the best part? You can pair it with any of the gift ideas above. In a world where everything moves fast and we consume more and more, I feel like nothing beats giving an experience. Plus, offering a stay here means giving someone the chance to slow down.

Chibougamau Aventure and Nibiischii are two places where you truly disconnect and reconnect with the present moment:

• At Chibougamau Aventure, it's the perfect balance of luxury and discovery.
• At Nibiischii, diversity is key: Indigenous culture, nature interpretation, and outdoor adventure.

In both cases, the real added value is the immersion in nature and the staff, who are so thoughtful you'll want to become friends with them.

A Plane Ticket to Come Discover the Region

We all know that planning a trip can get complicated when you don't know your loved one's exact schedule. So why not offer them the freedom of choice?

Air Creebec, a regional airline based in Val-d'Or, Montreal, and Timmins, serves several communities: Chibougamau, Waskaganish, Eastmain, Wemindji, Chisasibi, and Whapmagoostui.

Good news: through the PAAR program, travellers can access reduced fares for personal travel (some conditions apply).

Note: once they arrive, visitors will need their own transportation.

A Little Something from Our Region's Promo Shop

No gift guide would be complete without a shout-out to our online boutique. You'll find a whole variety of region-themed promotional items, perfect for gifting or treating yourself.

There are practical must-haves like the waterproof bag (my go-to for outdoor outings) and our cozy little toques. Curious minds will love the stunning Eeyou Istchee book or the Northern flavours cookbook, two great reads for anyone wanting to learn more about Eeyou culture. And of course, the timeless classics: mugs, water bottles, stickers, and more. Basically, plenty of northern-inspired goodies that will instantly make your gift cooler.

In the end, whether you're last-minute (like me) or the ultra-organized type, giving a meaningful gift always feels good, for the person receiving it and the person giving it. And in our region, there's no shortage of ideas: local creations rooted in culture, human experiences that stay with you, unique boreal flavours, or even a stay to disconnect from the everyday. There are countless ways to offer someone a little piece of Eeyou Istchee Baie-James.

And maybe the best gift of all is this: sharing what we have that's most authentic and most real. And if that can support our artisans, our creators, our organizations, and our destination, that's a win-win.

So let the gift hunt begin and may it be anything but boring!

Tania
Marketing Project Manager