NWT Arts

I am a traditional Dene artist. I handcraft beaded, embroidered and tufted pieces, particularly bracelets, necklaces and earrings. I work with beads, birch bark, moose and caribou hair, embroidery, and fish skin. I typically sew on stroud, Pellon, wool or leather.

I learned my creative skills by watching my mom. I sat and watched her until I was old enough to sew on my own, which was around nine years old. The first tufting piece I made and sold was when I was 13 years old.

Ever since I was a child, I loved being surrounded by nature. It’s nature that inspires me the most to this day: it guides me to use certain colours and materials in my work. I love observing flowers, tree leaves, and the seasonal transitions from Spring to Summer and Summer to Fall. A leaf will never be the same, a rose hip will never be the same — they will always have different colours and shapes. Like nature, I love to create art that is unique and ever-changing.

When I work on a piece, it doesn’t always take form as I had imagined. It’s a difficult feeling  to describe, but it’s almost like my art has a life of its own. Sometimes, I start beadwork and keep adding pieces as I go along until I get a result that I am happy with. I love to be focused on the process, things usually work out well that way!

I am very particular about my work: it has to be high quality and it has to be neat. I don’t want it to fall apart, so I make sure it’s secure when I’m done. It’s something that I was taught to do. Someone once told me she accidentally put earrings I made through the wash, and she said they came out intact — that’s what I like to hear!

I create art because of the calm it brings. I’m at peace when I’m sewing. The challenge of creating is something that I enjoy too. Each piece that I make is unique because I love to challenge myself. I also find joy in the idea that I’m creating something that will find a home with someone who’s a good match.

Creating art connected to my Dene culture feels great. Besides earrings and other accessories, I like to make tobacco pouches, sewing needle cases and other items needed by my community. I love to create those traditional and cultural pieces that will last a long time.