Choosing a Certified Métis-Owned Print Shop in Saskatoon

"Métis-owned" gets used loosely online, sometimes as a real, verifiable fact and sometimes as a line on a website with nothing behind it. For anyone weighing a purchase, whether it is a band office tracking procurement or a business owner who simply wants to know who they are supporting, that difference matters. Here is what certification actually means, and what to check for beyond it.

What Does "Certified" Actually Mean?

A certified listing means a business has been verified and registered through a recognized body rather than simply self-describing its ownership. Sandstar Graphics carries the Certified Saskatchewan Métis Business designation through Métis Nation Saskatchewan's business directory. That is a verifiable record, not a marketing claim: anyone can check the SaskMétis Business Directory listing directly.

Why Certification Matters for Procurement

Band offices, tribal councils, economic development corporations, and a growing number of businesses and government contracts track how much they spend with certified Indigenous and Métis suppliers, either to meet an internal policy or a contractual requirement. A verifiable certification gives a purchasing department something to point to in their own reporting. An uncertified claim of ownership does not carry the same weight in that process, even if the ownership itself is genuine.

Is This Only Relevant for Indigenous Organizations?

Not at all. Sandstar Graphics works with businesses, sports leagues, schools, real estate agents, restaurants, and events across Saskatoon the same as any print studio. The certification matters specifically for organizations tracking Indigenous procurement. For everyone else, it is simply part of who is behind the shop, on the same footing as any other detail about a business you choose to work with.

What Should You Check Beyond the Label?

Ownership tells you who you are supporting. It does not replace the usual questions worth asking of any print shop:

• What happens in-house versus outsourced. A shop that owns its own screen printing, embroidery, and signage equipment can usually give firmer timelines than one relying on a third party for part of the job.
• Real turnaround times. Ask for the standard lead time on your specific product, not just a general "fast" claim.
• Recent, relevant work. A shop should be able to show examples close to what you are ordering, not just a general portfolio.
• Reviews you can verify. Google reviews, not just testimonials curated on the business's own site.

How to Verify Any Métis or Indigenous-Owned Claim

Two directories are worth checking for any business claiming Indigenous or Métis ownership in Saskatchewan: the SaskMétis Business Directory run by Métis Nation Saskatchewan, and the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce's Indigenous Business Directory. A real certification shows up in one of these places. A claim that only appears on a company's own website, with nothing to verify it, is worth a direct question before you rely on it for procurement purposes.

Also worth reading: Custom Printing for Powwows and Cultural Gatherings in Saskatchewan and A Guide for Band Offices and Community Organizations Ordering Branded Apparel.

Frequently Asked Questions