Since Monday, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment's Traditional Economy has been facilitated workshops to improve the skills of traditional artisans.

Johanna Tiemessen, manager of arts and crafts in ITI, said this is an opportunity to showcase the importance of seal in Inuit culture while helping artisans create products that are consistent in their quality and design.

SA国际影视传媒淭he workshop is for artisans already working with seal who wanted to enhance their skills and take their art to a next level from a design stand point with more use of patterns and how to create a product that the market is seeking,SA国际影视传媒� Tiemessen said.

SA国际影视传媒淲e've also engages with the Yellowknife Inuit Society to make sure that we are presenting seal in a respectful manner as well with cultural protocols.SA国际影视传媒�

They will also be lighting a traditional seal oil lamp, or a Qulliq, and be telling the importance of seal at a public showcase at the Lon John Jamboree.

SA国际影视传媒淲e're hoping workshops like this is something that Aurora college would have value in resurrecting,SA国际影视传媒� Tiemessen said. SA国际影视传媒淭hese opportunities do not happen all the time.SA国际影视传媒�

Agnes Kuptana from Ulukhaktok began learning the traditional methods of seal skin preparation at age eight and since has been making pieces of clothing whenever she has time.

She said workshops like these are an incredible opportunity to keep learning and practicing the craft while learning from

SA国际影视传媒淪o amazing to see these beautiful ladies and the work they have created. So amazed by the different talents they all have.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚 hope it won't be the last,SA国际影视传媒� Kuptana said. SA国际影视传媒淚t's so important to be able to keep these traditions alive and pass them down to the younger generations.SA国际影视传媒�

Susie Nakashuk SA国际影视传媒� Zettler said that being able to participate in the workshop has felt amazing.

SA国际影视传媒淲ork like this is good for the soul and being a part of this creative room brought tears to my eyes.SA国际影视传媒�

Hovak Johnston said being able to participate in the workshop is a huge privilege.

SA国际影视传媒淔or a long time I've been learning the traditional methods of creating these animal skin pieces,SA国际影视传媒� Johnston said.

SA国际影视传媒淚've always wanted to learn how to use leather machines and sewing machines. I sew for a living and this was an opportunity to learn how clothes are created in commercial factories. This opportunity to combine the two worlds of traditional and modern methods has been very valuable.SA国际影视传媒�

It was also the atmosphere of the workshops and

SA国际影视传媒淚t makes such a big difference to be able to work with these women who are all so talented,SA国际影视传媒� Johnston said.

SA国际影视传媒淚t's been such a privilege to learn from one of the best, which is especially important coming from a Northern indigenous perspective.SA国际影视传媒�

The designer putting on the workshop is Northern clothing designer and former band councillor of Wrigley D'Arcy Moses.

SA国际影视传媒淭he workshop has been curriculum intensive. We're keeping everyone busy making tote bags, vests, hats, laptop bags and the like,SA国际影视传媒� Moses said.

SA国际影视传媒淭hese kinds of workshops are so important because they stem from a traditional economy, we're only using wild skins,SA国际影视传媒� Moses said.

SA国际影视传媒淭here is a building interest in the production of these kinds of traditional items, it's like a cultural renaissance is happening.SA国际影视传媒�

With the expertise that Moses brings, these traditional items of clothing are being infused with a SA国际影视传媒渃ommercial bend on production.SA国际影视传媒�

Moses makes use of multiple electric sewing machines and a technique he calls SA国际影视传媒渄igitized bead work.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚t uses computer embroidery machines which produces designs which look very similar to traditional bead work,SA国际影视传媒� Moses said.

SA国际影视传媒淎 single flower design embroidered onto a bag or boot can have anywhere from a 20,000 to 30,000 stitch count and can be done in an hour. Doing it traditionally with beads could take more than a daySA国际影视传媒�

The workshops also included separate workshops with chefs and restaurateurs to work with seal making complimentary tapas. The workshops were made possible with support from NWT Arts, the Department of Fishieries and Oceans as well as the Fur Institute of Canada.

The public showcase of the workshops will be at 1 p.m. at the Long John Jamboree festival at the Yellowknife Multiplex/Fieldhouse parking lot. But for the artisans in the workshop, the public showcase is hardly the important part.

SA国际影视传媒淚'd rather just stay and enjoy working with these ladies,SA国际影视传媒� Johnston said.