NWT Arts

I love to sew and create unique hand-stitched embroidery work. Right now, I make parkas, purses  and mukluks, but I can create pretty much anything!  I use seal and fox fur to adorn the parkas that I make.

I learned to embroider by watching my aunties. When I was a little girl, I used to watch them all the time. They did beautiful work and I was interested in learning those skills too. I learned to do different embroidery stitches over time. Most of all, I learned what works best for me.

I grew up in the bush, where sewing was taught to us. That’s where I learned how to make mukluks, down parkas, and all kinds of clothing to go out on the land. I’ve always sewn by hand from the beginning, but now I am learning to use a sewing machine as well.

My former occupation was a full-time hunter and trapper and a big game guide for all four big game species in the Tuktoyaktuk area: caribou, muskox, grizzly and polar bear. I was the only female guide for polar bears. To be a big game guide for polar bears, you need to fulfill different requirements. I got my dad to help me to set up my own dog team, which is necessary. I successfully hunted a polar bear on my own with my dog team before I even got onto the big game guide list. There were many challenges, but I love a challenge, so that worked out well for me!

Working with furs makes me feel connected to my culture. Being a former hunter and trapper, I like to use fur whenever I can. I love to sew, but I really wanted to keep supporting the trappers too, which is why I make it a priority to include furs in my designs.

When I do my embroidery work, it’s my down-time. It’s my relaxation after a long day. It’s nice to pick up the needle and concentrate on the embroidery work. I love to create my own patterns, which has been a learning process for me. I wanted to challenge myself once again.

My creative process begins when I start to imagine what I want to create. I think about it in details, and once I have a plan, it’s straight-forward from there. When I create something for an individual, it is uniquely theirs. My clients can choose which colours they like best, and I’ll bring it to life. I have a lot of interest for what I do. I take great pride in my work and in all the small details that go into it. Every piece that I make is unique because of that.