“This chair is about more than design,” says Metallic. “It’s about making space for Indigenous presence in the places where our voices and contributions matter. To know that our art, our identity, our stories will live in these rooms—it means everything.”
The chair takes its name from Waaban—meaning “the morning light” in Anishinaabemowin—which signals a shift: toward inclusion, toward reconciliation, and toward a future where Indigenous presence is not symbolic or peripheral but embedded in the very environments that shape this country.
Built on ergoCentric’s airCentric platform, the Waaban Chair delivers the ergonomic performance and long-term comfort trusted by Canada’s leading organizations.
“The Waaban Chair shows what’s possible when manufacturing, culture, and purpose come together.” says Terry Cassaday, Founder and CEO of ergoCentric.
For Steven Vanloffeld, Anishinaabe entrepreneur and CEO of eSupply Canada, the Waaban Chair began with a single question: What does reconciliation look like in the workplace?
“The Waaban Chair brings reconciliation into the room—visibly, respectfully, and intentionally,” says Vanloffeld. “It offers organizations a powerful opportunity to align their values with their environments and show Indigenous inclusion in a meaningful way.”
Each chair sold contributes directly to the next generation of Indigenous leaders. $20 from every chair is donated to Indspire, a national Indigenous-led charity supporting post-secondary education for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students.
The Waaban Chair isn’t just office furniture—it’s a tangible expression of reconciliation. By choosing Waaban, organizations advance Indigenous procurement, support Indigenous entrepreneurship, showcase Indigenous artistry, and invest in Canadian manufacturing. It strengthens corporate–Indigenous relations, drives measurable social impact, and brings visibility to the spaces where leadership happens.
After a celebrated unveiling at the Assembly of First Nations Annual General Assembly, the Waaban Chair is now officially available to order, exclusively through eSupply Canada. Bulk and institutional purchasing is now open.
For more information please contact, Julia Teoli at 1-866-438-3746 ext. 222 or email [email protected].