Karen Bisson

Karen Bisson is an Indigenous business owner in Almonte, Ontario. She is the President of Turtle Lodge Trading Post, a mail-order retail company that sells Indigenous cultural items like ceremonial tools and medicines. Karen founded the business in 2006 when she was approached by elders who were seeking a more affordable source of white sage. Her business’s mission is to bring high-quality, ethically sourced medicines for ceremonial use to people who cannot harvest them on their own. Karen also aims to honour her Métis, Mi’kmaq, and Wendat roots by running a business that is tailored to Indigenous culture. In 2020, Turtle Lodge Trading Post was featured in the Toronto Star as a part of their Diverse Voices series, which highlights business owners who come from underrepresented backgrounds. Karen’s business can also be found in the Native Women’s Association of Canada’s #BeTheDrum Indigenous Women’s Business Directory.