Shades of Gray Indigenous Hertiage | Dogs & Cat Treats – Shades of Gray Indigenous Pet Treats

SHADES OF GRAY HERITAGE

Shades of Gray Indigenous Pet Treats is a 100% Female-owned Business, certified by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business.

Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation

FIRST NATION HERITAGE

Keri Gray, is the sole proprietor of Shades of Gray Indigenous Pet Treats, and a business partner with her husband Brian in Shades of Gray Rabbitry. She takes pride in her First Nation heritage as a member of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan. Keri is a mother to two wonderful young women, whom she has raised as members of the Alderville First Nation community. Keri has dedicated many years to serving the people on and off the reserve in various capacities, including education, employment, volunteering and financial services.

Owner and Founder

Keri Gray

Keri Gray is the Owner of Shades of Gray Indigenous Pet Treats. She is a proud First Nation woman and a member of the Alqonquins of Pikwakanagan. Keri has worked many years on and off the reserve providing services to the people of of her local community in the form of education, employment, and finance.

Keri grew up in Lakefield, Ontario working on her family's beef farm and at the family butcher shop business alongside her parents. Before starting Shades of Gray Indigenous Pet Treats Keri attended the University of Manitoba and took Agriculture. After University she attended Red River College and completed a business program. She returned to Ontario, where she worked at the Metis Nation of Ontario in Toronto, then at Trent University as the financial officer in the Indigenous Studies Department for 9 years.

Following the birth of her children, Keri took a position on the reserve for Alderville First Nation as the Learning Centre Coordinator. Through perseverance and hard work, she and her partner Brian started building their farm business Shades of Gray Rabbitry. Her daughter's medical conditions necessitated the need to
learn organic and high-quality healthy food growing techniques, and processes to grow meat that they could eat.

The Farm, Shades of Gray Rabbitry, was started back in 2012 just for the Gray family. In a few years, it had grown to support local chefs, grocery stores, butcher shops and friends.

The human food market led to a lot of waste animal meat being disposed of which violated Keri's heritage philosophy of using all of an animal's sacrifice. It was at this point that Keri had the ingenious idea of making pet treats for her own pets, which later led to family and friends wanting treats as well. Keri did her research, took courses, becoming a Certified Raw Nutrition Specialist. She initially tested the market at local events, dog shows etc. Folks were interested and loved how their humane animal wellness-centric approach to farming, and of course the quality of the Treats.

In 2019, Shades of Gray Indigenous Pet Treats was registered. Allowing us to bring healthy treats to pets all over Canada while still holding onto the core Aboriginal principles which Keri holds so dear to her heart.

“What sets us apart is our high Quality, Federally Inspected meat and absolutely No Antibiotics. Our treats are balanced as nature intended for our pets, no additives needed!”

Keri is a firm believer in the value of education and empowerment for Aboriginal people, women and the youth. Teaching her daughters that, despite struggles such as food allergies, we can learn from our challenges and deliver back, to the Canadian people, such lessons as wellness through healthy food and proper use of the land on which we live, has been the way of the First Nation People since time immemorial. Keri continues to be a leader and innovator in the Canadian First Nation community and is actively involved with several organizations and committees, including the Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce as the Chair. Keri is also a Board of Directors member for the local CFDC.

The Algonquin philosophy is to only take what you need; give in order to receive; recognize that you are an equal part of all that is; be thankful for everything that you get. It is encourage that each person develops their own special relationship with the Creator. It is this difference, this uniqueness with the Creator that creates meaning for the Algonquin Peoples.

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