Ulukhaktok artist Mary Jane Nigiyok has always been fascinated by the aesthetic qualities of fish skin, and she noticed people she encountered at the recent CRAFTED craft show in Winnipeg had a similar reaction.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen people were stopping by my table, I told them the products are made from Arctic char fish skin or vertebrae, and they were fascinated,SA国际影视传媒� Nigiyok said soon after she arrived home. SA国际影视传媒淭hey were surprised that something like that could be made with fish skin.SA国际影视传媒�

Nigiyok attended CRAFTED, which ran from Nov. 3-5 at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, with 11 other NWT artists. NWT Arts, a program is operated by the GNWTSA国际影视传媒檚 Department of Industry Tourism and Investment, supported the group in getting to their destination.

Participants also received training to ensure they were prepared for the popular event.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is not just a community craft fair anymore,SA国际影视传媒� said Johanna Tiemessen, the departmentSA国际影视传媒檚 manager of arts and traditional economies. SA国际影视传媒淵ou have to stand out at your table. Do you have signage? Do you have business cards? Do you have artist cards? We help them all of that.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淲e want to help them to be successful.SA国际影视传媒�

Nigiyok is grateful to have had the experience.

SA国际影视传媒淚 so enjoyed that trip,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 enjoyed meeting a lot of people, meeting other artists from the NWT, meeting the organizers.

SA国际影视传媒淚 want to say thank you to the NWT Arts program, because without them I wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 have been able to attend the show.SA国际影视传媒�

Nigiyok has been crafting since she was a girl, when she used to work on projects with her mother. Over the years, she has experimented with several mediums. She began focusing on fish skin in 2019, after taking an online class taught by an artist in Alaska.

She finds making art SA国际影视传媒渟oothing,SA国际影视传媒� she said, and now works on her crafts with her daughter and granddaughters.

SA国际影视传媒淚t clears my mind from the everyday hustle and bustle,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e also taught my daughter and my oldest granddaughter and my second oldest granddaughter how to do it.

SA国际影视传媒淚t brings me back to growing up and being at our camp in the summer. I remember seeing the fish skin and how pretty it was. I remember watching my mum work with the fish.SA国际影视传媒�

After a successful few days of sales at crafted, Nigiyok now plans to replenish her inventory for several smaller shows around the NWT.

She also hopes to attend the 2024 edition of CRAFTED, the dates of which have not yet been announced.

SA国际影视传媒淚 do plan on applying again,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

NWT Arts has taken artists to CRAFTED for the last three years.

According to Tiemessen, it is common for participants to attend more than once.

SA国际影视传媒淎rtists of the Northwest Territories benefit so much from being there in-person,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭hey talk to other artists, they are inspired to create new work, they find new audiences, and the best part is having them directly tell their story and share their culture.SA国际影视传媒�