First Nations graphic design
Brochures, booklets, reports and identity, designed by a First Nations designer and delivered remotely.
The practice
ka-tawôw media is a First Nations-owned design and communications practice based on-reserve at Poundmaker Cree Nation, Treaty 6, Saskatchewan. I have spent thirty years producing print and digital work for First Nations organizations, with municipal, provincial, state and federal clients across Canada and the United States, and international work in Africa.
I take a project from sketches to press-ready files, and I understand the protocol questions that come with Indigenous content.
What I design
Print and publications
Brochures, booklets, annual reports, guides, and toolkits.
Identity and brand systems
Logos, brand standards guides, colour and type systems, pattern and icon libraries.
Web
Static and CMS-based sites, migrations, and landing pages.
Communications
Layout and design for public-facing materials where language, imagery and tone have to reach your audience.
Artist file preparation
Support for artists preparing their artwork in the correct file formats for their projects: vector files for professional art reproduction, publications, gallery exhibitions, merchandise and more.
Indigenous content
How I work with First Nations and Indigenous content
My background is in communication, design and community engagement, developing and managing culturally relevant materials. Throughout my career I have worked alongside cultural experts and artists, and I understand that working with First Nations and Indigenous communities requires care and respect for local protocols.
Public sector
Working with municipalities and public organizations
Remote delivery
Meetings by video, files by secure share, mock-up proofs as PDF. No travel line on the invoice unless you want to meet in person.
Vendor registration
Registration with the Indigenous Business Directory (Indigenous Services Canada) is in progress. I will set up as a supplier in your procurement system on request and complete whatever onboarding your finance office needs.
Clean invoicing
PO numbers, milestone billing, and your city's format, whatever it is.
File handover
You receive the complete exported package, print PDFs, web PDFs and source-ready assets, with a version log. When anything changes, the whole package is re-issued so nobody is working from a stale file.
Consultation and support
Throughout the project, not just at the start and the end.
Selected work
Reports
Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre (MFNERC)
Book
University of Manitoba
Poster campaigns
Southeast Resource Development Council (SERDC)
Brand guide
SPARK / Inspire Group, Saskatchewan
The designer
Ovid Thomas (legal name: Fredrick Edwards). Designer, communications professional, and media creator. Poundmaker Cree Nation, Treaty 6.
Thirty years across print, web, and digital media, including Communications Coordinator at the American Indian Community House in New York, National Media Coordinator at NNAAPC, and technology training for UNESCO across eight countries. Attended Parsons School of Design, New York, and Concordia University, Montreal.
Start here
Tell me in a few lines what you are making. Details can wait for the first conversation. If you would rather just write to me, ovid@katawow.ca works as well.
ka-tawôw media is a registered First Nations-owned business located in Poundmaker Cree Nation, Saskatchewan.