NWT Arts

Flora was born near Fort Providence and was raised at Two Island by her aunt, Gobeh, after her grandmother brought her there as a young child. Under her aunt’s guidance, she began learning to sew at the age of nine. By the time she was eleven, she had made her first pair of moccasins using hide her aunt had prepared, working for three nights straight to complete them. She was deeply proud of that accomplishment.

Flora tanned her first moosehide at the age of thirteen, though she had been learning and observing the process from a very young age. She understood the care and effort required—removing the hair, stretching, and scraping the hide repeatedly. For her, the hard work was always worthwhile, resulting in a beautifully tanned hide that could be used to create many items, including belts, card holders, gloves, mukluks, and moccasins.

Over her lifetime, Flora created countless pieces, too many to number. She sewed constantly, finding comfort and purpose in her work. Even as she experienced arthritis in her hands, she found that sewing helped keep them active and eased her discomfort.

Flora took great pride in continuing the traditions passed down to her by her mother and aunt. She carried forward their knowledge and patterns and remained committed to passing those teachings on to future generations. Her work stands as a reflection of her dedication, skill, and deep cultural connection.