When Sarah Cleary is sewing, she still thinks of the advice she received from her mom many decades ago.

SA国际影视传媒淚t always reminds me what my mother always said: remember that you pull the sinew tight, so your clothing will last for a long, long time,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

A Deline-born Elder who now lives in Yellowknife, Cleary learned to sew from her mother during a childhood spent almost entirely on the land.

It was a skill with immediate practical benefits.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 very important to have the right clothing for the seasons,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 grew up on the land, and I was always taught to be prepared, and showed how to make moccasins and repair them and keep warm. I carry that forward with me.

SA国际影视传媒淚n the old days, when weSA国际影视传媒檙e sewing, itSA国际影视传媒檚 got to be quality, because you travel the land a lot. You canSA国际影视传媒檛 afford to have your moccasins rip or anything, because itSA国际影视传媒檚 cold out there.SA国际影视传媒�

Sewing also helped keep Cleary entertained as a young girl, as she eventually learned how to make dolls from sinew and traditional hides.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen we were little, we travelled the land and we had no toys,SA国际影视传媒� she recalled. SA国际影视传媒淭he HudsonSA国际影视传媒檚 Bay [Company] had just the basics. I donSA国际影视传媒檛 ever remember buying toys, so we made our own.SA国际影视传媒�

She still sews as much as ever today.

She makes garments by request, handles repairs and alterations for people who need them, and is currently working on a pair of moccasins for a 100-year-old Elder in Norman Wells.

TheySA国际影视传媒檙e SA国际影视传媒渂eautiful,SA国际影视传媒� she said, SA国际影视传媒渨ith black hide, gold beads, little flowers and a silver Arctic fox.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚 really put a lot of work into it,SA国际影视传媒� she added.

She also creates beautiful dolls, much like the ones she made out on the land as a girl.

SA国际影视传媒淚 can probably do a doll in two or three days, with the beading and everything,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 made them for my little nieces and for my daughter.SA国际影视传媒�

When she isnSA国际影视传媒檛 busy with her own projects, Cleary enjoys teaching the next generation how to sew.

She shares her knowledge SA国际影视传媒渙ff and onSA国际影视传媒� at YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 Tree of Peace Friendship Centre, and derives great satisfaction from seeing young people learn the skill.

They may be spending less time on the land than she did, but she noted that SA国际影视传媒渋f modern science ever crashes,SA国际影视传媒� having skills like sewing in their back pocket will help them SA国际影视传媒渟urvive out on the land.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭hey can carry it on so we donSA国际影视传媒檛 lose it SA国际影视传媒� to remember our ancestors and where we come from,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淗istory is very important.SA国际影视传媒�

Sewing can also be a good source of income for young people, according to Cleary.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a good hobby that you can carry on and pass it on to the next generation so that they can use it,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淪ay they go south or something for further education, they can sew and sell their sewing, and that would supplement their income.SA国际影视传媒�

When asked what advice she would share with the next generation of Indigenous artists and craftspeople in the NWT, Cleary simply encouraged them to nurture the skills they learned from their Elders SA国际影视传媒� just like she did.

SA国际影视传媒淲hatever they learn from their grandparents or their parents, make sure that they carry that on so that they can feel secure and they can feel happy about their future every time they see their products,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭hat way theySA国际影视传媒檒l carry on their tradition.

SA国际影视传媒淓ven handling a needle is very rewarding.SA国际影视传媒�