NWT Arts

I'm a traditional artist who does beadwork, tufting and quill work. I make a variety of jewelry including bracelets, earrings, medallions and necklaces in various styles with traditional or contemporary materials. I also sew, actively learning to make wrap-arounds, moccasins and mitts. 

I work with porcupine quills, dentalium shells, caribou hair and traditionally-tanned hides. I like working with different types of hides, like elk, caribou, moose and deer. I am currently in the process of tanning my very own caribou hide with teachings from my Auntie Jessie Carriere. 

Most of what I do is self-taught. When I first began making art, it was at a time in my life where I was looking to reconnect with my homeland. After putting my work out there for a while, my cousins; Jesse Lafferty, Jorja Mulder and my friend Natasha Cochrane would exchange tips and guidance to grow my skillset. This helped me be where I am today. 

I am continually inspired by my homeland, Deninu Kue (Fort Resolution). We were one of the first communities in the Northwest Territories to be hit by residential schools, which created a break in our culture. Despite this, people in my community are still deeply tied to the land, running dogs, trapping, fishing and hunting following the seasons. Our relationship with the land was the one thing colonization couldn't take from us, but a lot of our traditional artists are gone. I want to play a role in bringing that back, which is why I want to learn as much as possible to teach willingly. 

Growing up in ceremony, I love to honor wildlife. I was taught that all animals carry lessons and teachings. When I pick an animal for my artwork, my intent is to share the teachings they carry and protocols on how to respect them. This is spirit work. 

The goal when I started to bead and sew was to reconnect with my culture, which I did. I wanted to make moccasins and wrap-arounds for my kids: I want to be that mom, that auntie, and maybe that grandma some day! This art practice showed me that we're always growing, that there is always space to learn something new.