NWT Arts

I am a Shúhtaot’ine Dene woman from Tulita, Northwest Territories. My art comes from the land, from my family, and from the teachings carried through generations before me. I create with the understanding that the hide, caribou hair, birch bark, and other natural materials I use are gifts from the land and should be treated with respect.

Much of my work is shaped by the places and resources that raised me—the Mackenzie River, Bear Rock, the animals we harvest, the plants we gather, and the changing seasons on the land. These are not only sources of inspiration; they are part of my identity and the way I understand home.

I learned by watching my mother and grandmother work with their hands, and through the knowledge shared within my family. My grandfather’s work with birch bark for canoes and snowshoes also continues to live within the way I create. Their teachings showed me patience, gratitude, resourcefulness, and the importance of carrying knowledge forward.

When I bead, work with hide, tuft caribou hair, or create with birch bark, I am not only making art. I am honouring my Dene roots, the land that continues to provide for us, and the hands that taught mine. My work is one way I keep those teachings alive and carry them forward for the generations coming after me.