Aabizikaawin soap project makes dollars and scents

Scott Csernyik

5/14/2003 12:00:00 AM

An entrepreneurial opportunity for Aabizikaawin Alternative Education students may prove itself to be good clean fun while raising money for the Isabella Reservation school.

ArtiCulture co-owner Steve Sowmick recently conducted a workshop with the students on how to make scented soap. Sowmick is donating 43 pounds of raw, hand-milled soap which should yield 500-600 bars.

"As Native people, we like smelling the scents associated with our people, like sweetgrass," he stated. "The product is all natural and is made from vegetable and coconut oils."

When the bars are made, various yummy scents are used including sweetgrass, blueberry sage, cedar, fir, spruce and juniper. They have also made soap using mint and honey oatmeal.

Sowmick also donated several molds featuring woodland motifs such as a maple lead, acorns, bees and a bear. The bars will be available for $5 each in three vending machines he is also giving to the school.

"This project has the potential to create a perpetual fund for the students," he stated. "It was also important for me to help the students because I went to school there and feel like giving a little back."

ArtiCulture has marketed several projects in Indian Country including the "Three Fires Coloring Book," "Three Fires Coloring Book II-the Language of the Land," and two cookbooks featuring recipes from the Great Lakes.

Student Rosanna Romero said she thought the April 18 workshop was a lot of fun.

"I never made soap before, it was kind of cool learning how to do it," she said.