7 unique Valentine’s Day gifts to give in 2024 (1/22/2024) -   Valentine's Day is a day to celebrate love and express affection for your loved one. Giving unique, handcrafted presents from Indigenous Artisans will undoubtedly make the day unforgettable and meaningful. Here, we recommend 7 remarkable Valentine's Day presents made by talented Indigenous Artisans, each of which tells a story of tradition, artistry, and love.… Continue Reading
Journal Hafteh: Art helps heal our traumatized souls (1/17/2024) - This is the English translation of an interview with Cheryl Fennell, a PIC&D artist, featured in the Hafteh Journal. For the original article, kindly refer to pages 167 to 180 using the provided link below.   https://hafteh.ca/uploads/mag/n06.pdf   You just presented your designs at a fashion show in Vancouver. Could you tell us about it?… Continue Reading
CBC News Repost: Look what I made! Students show off art projects inspired by Inuit culture (12/5/2023) - "The art room at St. Matthew’s School in St. John’s is filling up with Inuk dolls, ulus, inukshuks and drums. Grade 6 students are working with Inuk artist Trudy Flowers on a project that blends art, craft and culture. Click to see what they’ve made."   The original article: Look what I made! Students show… Continue Reading
2023 Holiday Gift Guide: Proudly Indigenous Seal Fur Products (12/4/2023) - As the holiday season approaches, it's the perfect time to explore unique and meaningful gift options. This year, consider stepping away from mainstream gifts and explore Indigenous handmade seal fur products from Canada’s north. Every product, from gorgeous earrings to toasty slippers, is a tribute to the rich culture and superb workmanship of Indigenous artists.… Continue Reading
Summary: In pics: Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week 2023 (11/30/2023) - The Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week 2023 showcased diverse creations by Indigenous designers in Vancouver, Canada, on November 20, 2023. Xinhuanet(新华网）featured models presenting designs by artists such as Yolonda Skelton, Ocean Kiana, and Taalrumiq. The images captured the vibrant and culturally rich contributions of these designers to the fashion week.   View the photos here: In… Continue Reading
Summary: At Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week, Red Dresses Carried a Powerful Message (11/30/2023) - The Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week (VIFW) is a yearly event showcasing contemporary designs by Indigenous designers. The Red Dress showcase, inspired by the REDress Project, focuses on the issue of Missing And Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit  (MMIWG2S) people in Canada. The red dresses symbolize remembrance and a call for justice. Indigenous designers use… Continue Reading
Meet Proudly Indigenous Sealskin Artists at Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week (10/20/2023) -   We are excited to announce that Proudly Indigenous Crafts & Designs (PIC&D) will participate in the Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week (VIFW), which takes place at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver, November 20 to 23, 2023.  Five PIC&D sealskin artists will be participating in the marketplace, and three of the designers will be showing… Continue Reading
Repost: Inuit women reviving traditional black-bottom sealskin boots through summer workshops (8/21/2023) - Kimberly Pilgrim and Veronica Flowers, two Inuit women, have started a workshop series to conserve the traditional artistry of manufacturing black-bottom sealskin boots, a skill passed down through generations among the Inuit. The two, both university students, decided to hold workshops over the summer to discuss the full process of making these boots, from hunting… Continue Reading
Repost:Indigenous Women Entrepreneurs – Changing the Future of Tourism in Canada’s North (7/7/2023) - Author:Yvette Rasmussen (Stswecem’c Xget’tem First Nation) and Dr. Sonya Graci " ... Inuvialuk fashion designer, Taalrumiq, named after her maternal Great-Naanak Taalrumiq, resides in the Northwest Territories. For Inuvialuk Peoples, traditional names carry profound responsibility. Believing that children share physical and spiritual traits with their namesakes, Elders and family members performing the naming ceremony place deep consideration… Continue Reading
Repost: Support sustainable practices (6/13/2023) - Repost from the Canadian Crafts Federation   UNDERSTANDING SEAL PRODUCTS Over millennia, Indigenous and coastal communities have survived using cultural knowledge to sustain ecosystemic harmony, nourishment, and economic growth from seal products. However, these traditional methods, including sealskin craft, are being undersupported due to contemporary practices as society moves to modernity. NATIONAL SEAL PRODUCTS DAY The… Continue Reading
National Indigenous Peoples Day (5/22/2023) - June 21st is a day to recognize and honour the resilience, culture, and contributions of Indigenous peoples across Canada. 1. What is National Indigenous Peoples Day? National Indigenous Peoples Day is an opportunity to recognize and honour the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples who have been living in what is now known as Canada… Continue Reading
Repost: NWT Sealskin Artists Featured at the Northern Lights Conference (3/8/2023) - February 24, 2023   "Four Indigenous artists from the NWT had the opportunity last week to attend a national conference to promote the Proudly Indigenous Crafts and Designs(link is external) (PIC&D) brand, thanks to support from ITI’s NWT Arts Program and the Seals and Sealing Network (SSN) — a subcommittee of the Fur Institute of Canada.… Continue Reading
Celebrating Indigenous Women Artists Working with Sealskin (3/7/2023) - International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate and honour the accomplishments of women worldwide. In recognition of this special day, let us take a moment to shine the spotlight on some remarkable Indigenous women artists who have chosen to work with sealskin. From traditional sewing methods to innovative art installations, their work celebrates the… Continue Reading
Repost: In pictures: ‘Light bulbs go off’ at sealskin workshop (3/7/2023) - A six-day workshop in Yellowknife was held to help Indigenous artists in the Northwest Territories (NWT) improve their traditional skills and create contemporary sealskin works for the modern market.   The workshop was organized by the NWT's Department of Industry, Tourism, and Investment and held at Makerspace YK. The attendees were taught pricing and selling… Continue Reading
Summary：Northern Lights event a gathering spot for political, business leaders (2/13/2023) - Northern Lights event, a five-day event at the Shaw Centre in Ottawa, has featured talks on subjects ranging from Indigenous-led economic development and tourism to military and green energy issues.   Northern businesses and groups have been able to set up booths at trade shows to showcase their products and discuss future plans.   Our… Continue Reading
News summary: The chefs reviving the Arctic’s forgotten food (2/6/2023) - A group of innovative chefs from the Arctic and subarctic has banded together to promote indigenous culture by creating a new type of cuisine utilizing traditional ingredients.   The New Arctic Kitchen movement brings communities worldwide together to exchange and enhance their food traditions, including Arctic Canada, the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and the Finnish land… Continue Reading
Summary: Lesson on Inuit beauty more than skin-deep for Inuk woman (2/1/2023) - Muckpaloo Ipeelie, an Inuk lady who lives in The Blue Mountains and is the creator and CEO of the Urban Inuit Identity Project, came to the local class to speak more about the traditions.   Last week, she worked as a guest instructor and taught Grade 9 cosmetology students at Collingwood Collegiate Institute about Inuit… Continue Reading
Summary: How Indigenous people are strengthening fur traditions in an anti-fur world (2/1/2023) - Animal rights advocates have long condemned the fur business as cruel and needless. However, Northwest Territories artists and trappers disagree.   Indigenous people believe fur can be a sustainable, respectful, and even luxury material for clothing, accessories, and art. They feel it is critical to retain fur's significance in Indigenous cultures and traditional economics.  … Continue Reading
Press Release: Meet Proudly Indigenous Artists @ Northern Lights (1/20/2023) - What is Proudly Indigenous Crafts & Designs? Proudly Indigenous Crafts & Designs (PIC&D) is a trusted and secure e-commerce platform that celebrates and showcases Canadian Indigenous fashion designers and artists that create authentic, high quality, hand-crafted seal fur and leather products, such as accessories, footwear, clothing and home décor.   PIC&D fashion designers and artists… Continue Reading
Bambi Amos interviewed Kim Ruben (11/25/2022) - Bambi Amos, our Proudly Indigenous Crafts and Designs artist, interviewed Kim Ruben from Paulatuk about her traditional doll-making sewing skills. Let's see what they talked about.   Interview video: http://www.isuma.tv/tunnganarniq Continue Reading
Repost:30 Indigenous Clothing Brands to Support and Follow (11/24/2022) - Showing support for Indigenous people through fashion brands founded and owned by members of the Indigenous community From vibrant textiles, eye-catching silhouettes, and cool basics to elevated streetwear options, there's something for everyone. Continue reading to find 30 Indigenous designers, sustainable fashion lines, and ethical fashion businesses carrying everything from coats and sweatsuit sets to… Continue Reading
Summary: ‘We’re not in igloos anymore’: Seal Summit wraps with hope for a growing market for Inuit hunters (11/21/2022) -   Rubin Komangapik, an Inuk hunter, and his hunting partner Yoanis Menge manage a co-operative named Reconseal. They provide seal meat and skin to southern Inuit groups so that urban Inuit can have access to traditional staples like seal meat, arctic char, and caribou. Along the way, the two hunters share cross-cultural hunting techniques and… Continue Reading
Northerners among fashion designers to get spotlight in upcoming WAG show – REPOST (11/11/2022) -   April Allen, our featured artist in Proudly Indigenous Crafts and Design, had a phone interview with Eye on the Arctic news writer Eilís Quinn about the CRAFTED Show + Sale event at Winnipeg Art Gallery:   “Northerners will be among the designers spotlighted next month when their work is featured in a special fashion… Continue Reading
CBC News Repost: Inuit in Ottawa gain access to fresh seal meat thanks to 2 hunters in Quebec (10/30/2022) - Posted: Oct 30, 2022   "The first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in 2021 marked the beginning of a grey seal hunting project and a deep friendship between Yoanis Menge and Ruben Komangapik.   Last week marked the start of hunting for the second year of the initiative, with Komangapik and Menge harvesting seal… Continue Reading
Repost- CHRISTINA KING TAALRUMIQ – FUR WORKSHOP – INUVIK (9/6/2022) - August 27, 2022 Fur Canada     CHRISTINA KING TAALRUMIQ – FUR WORKSHOP – INUVIK What happens when you put a Greek Master Furrier in a room full of Northern Indigenous Women? There’s going to be learning, laughter, a little bit of teasing, and an even deeper appreciation for fur.   In February 2022, NWT… Continue Reading
Why Seal Fur Isn’t Off-Limits in the Summer (8/15/2022) - Summer is not the time for luxurious fur coats, but that doesn’t mean fur is off limits in the summer.   Real fur has always been the signature of luxury, but it doesn’t have to be limited to big fur coats, mitts or the fluffy trim on your parka. Many northern designers have been playing… Continue Reading
CBC News Repost- Shared seal hunt traditions focus of reconciliation project (8/3/2022) - CBC News report   Shared seal hunt traditions focus of reconciliation project   Inuit artist Aija Komangapik says Reconseal Inuksiuti, a co-operative of Indigenous and non-Indigenous seal hunters who provide country food for Inuit in Ottawa, helps the urban community connect to its roots and aims to promote reconciliation. Source: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2055885379509     Continue Reading
Understanding different types of furs (5/23/2022) - With dozens of types of fur out there, each one serves its own purpose while giving each piece a look that can’t be recreated with any other materials. Here are the types of fur out there that you can find from local harvesters.   It’s the oldest industry in Canada and it’s still going strong—especially… Continue Reading
Fur Institute of Canada welcomes release of Atlantic Seal Science Task Team report (5/12/2022) -   Fur Institute of Canada welcomes release of Atlantic Seal Science Task Team report    May 12, 2022    Ottawa, ON – The release of the report from the federal government’s Atlantic Seal Science Task Team arrives at a time of great uncertainty for communities across Canada’s East Coast that rely on ocean industries, including… Continue Reading
Influencers Inspiring Indigenous Art (4/15/2022) - Proudly Indigenous Crafts & Designs is bringing artists and social influencers together to promote Indigenous fashion.   Fashion is so much more than the clothing we put on our backs each day. Designers often think of it as a creative act and an expression of themselves. For many Indigenous artists, it’s also an expression of… Continue Reading
The seal: Part of traditions and cultural heritage (4/5/2022) -   The seal: Part of traditions and cultural heritage   Seal hunting is central to Indigenous culture and allows communities to share traditional customs, skills, and values from generation to generation. For thousands of years, seals have been providing food, garment, heat, and light for people living in challenging Northern climates. Today, the seal continues… Continue Reading
Inuit conservation is transforming life and work in the Arctic (3/29/2022) - Policy options news repost    March 29, 2022   Inuit conservation is transforming life and work in the Arctic   "An emerging Inuit-led conservation sector draws on hunting and fishing to innovate in areas like eco-tourism, food security, environmental management.   COVID-19 continues to disrupt employment in remote northern communities. For the Inuit of Nunavut,… Continue Reading
Why is it a good idea to choose fur when it comes to fashion? (3/28/2022) - Why is it a good idea to choose fur when it comes to fashion?   There are two major types of materials for the fashion industry today: natural and synthetic. Natural materials are more popular in recent years for many different reasons. The fabric is generally more environmentally friendly and durable. But when it comes… Continue Reading
For this international MUN student, Inuit art exhibit is a chance to unlearn and relearn region’s culture (3/27/2022) - CBC News Repost   March 27th 2022   For this international MUN student, Inuit art exhibit is a chance to unlearn and relearn region's culture   Leisha Toory is a political science major at Memorial University. She lives in St. John's.   "I recently went to The Rooms in St. John's, to see a new… Continue Reading
Getting to Know Proudly Indigenous Artists (3/16/2022) - Getting to Know Proudly Indigenous Artists   Whether it’s through vibrant beaded earrings, seal skin mitts or tufted purses, Indigenous artists are combining traditional fashion with contemporary styles to create one-of-a-kind pieces. Proudly Indigenous Crafts and Designs showcases a number of designers whose work will make anyone stand out in a crowd, while causing looks… Continue Reading
Why is the seal vital for Indigenous communities? (3/16/2022) - Why is the seal vital for Indigenous communities?   Historically, seals were one of the main food sources for Arctic communities. Seals provide materials to make garments for Indigenous crafters and their communities and to keep them warm. The seal meat and oil are consumed to sustain communities that are often food-insecure.  The blubber of… Continue Reading
Advancing Reconciliation Through Seal Tapestries (2/9/2022) - Through tapestries made of sealskin, designer Cheryl Fennell expresses how reconciliation is a positive thing.   When guests walked into Yellowknife’s boutique Mermaid and Moon last November, their jaws literally dropped. Amid designer Cheryl Fennell’s clothing items on display during a talk and exhibit was a series of massive tapestries, all stretched with rows upon… Continue Reading
Membertou wants to revive seal hunt that’s been put on ice (1/25/2022) - CBC News Repost     Membertou wants to revive seal hunt that's been put on ice   “ Membertou First Nation wants to revive the seal hunt in Nova Scotia and find new ways to use seal byproducts. The band has been piloting a grey seal harvest and is teaching community members how to humanely… Continue Reading
What are seal skins good for? (1/19/2022) - From providing food to oil to warmth, seals are practically a lifesaver for many in northern communities. What makes seals so valuable in the Arctic?   The use of sealskin has gotten a bad rep from many southerners and activists since campaigns to end the seal hunt began back in the 1970s. However, much of… Continue Reading
Ad campaign urges people to see the sustainability behind seal (11/29/2021) - Published: November 20, 2021 at 6:29 am EMILY BLAKE   “The campaign, from national non-profit the Seals and Sealing Network, began on November 8. It includes a series of blog posts and videos highlighting the sustainability of seal harvesting and the health and community benefits of seal oil, meat, and fur.”   Read Full Article: Ad… Continue Reading
Ottawa park renamed after late Inuk artist Annie Pootoogook (11/15/2021) - Fraser Needham, Nov 08, 2021   “Pootoogook’s art tends to focus on the every day such as watching television or cutting seal meat on the floor.”   Source: Late Inuk artist Annie Pootoogook has Ottawa park named after her (aptnnews.ca) Learn more about Annie Pootoogook’s drawing, Eating Seal at Home, 2001: https://www.aci-iac.ca/art-books/annie-pootoogook/key-works/eating-seal-at-home/ Continue Reading
Meet the North West River woman passing on ulu-making skills to the next generation (11/15/2021) - Regan Burden · CBC News · Posted: Nov 09   "My grandmother, who raised me from birth, cleaned sealskins for people in spring. The hunters would bring the seals — it was a commercial hunt back then — so there were lots of seals being harvested for pelts and the food. So there were always sealskins in our… Continue Reading
Nunavut MP Lori Idlout to take oath in Inuktitut, in ceremony lit by seal-oil lamps (11/15/2021) - The Canadian Press Marie Woolf Nov 09, 2021   “Lori Idlout, the new MP for Nunavut, is planning to wear a traditional Atigi parka at her swearing-in ceremony, which will be lit by seal-oil lamps and feature traditional Inuit throat singers.” Source: Nunavut MP Lori Idlout to take oath in Inuktitut, in ceremony lit by seal-oil… Continue Reading
Reconciliation through the gray seal hunt (11/1/2021) - An article about the new project called ReconSeal, a must read. Visit ReconSeal Facebook page. “A cultural exchange project on gray seal hunting between the Magdalen Islands and the Inuit community of Ottawa is coming together. Its promoters are the artists, hunters and friends Yoanis Menge and Ruben Komangapik”. Source: Hélène Fauteux. LA RÉCONCILIATION PAR… Continue Reading
Made in and Proudly Indigenous Crafts & Designs celebrate Indigenous Canadian designers by showcasing their fashion creations in seal fur and leather (6/23/2021) - Montreal, June 8, 2021 - Maison Made in is pleased to partner for the very first time with Canadian Seal Products to promote and celebrate authentic seal products created by Indigenous peoples for generations. The influencer campaign for this collaboration has just kicked off, with the recognition that June is National Indigenous History Month in… Continue Reading
Indigenous Fashion: Two Canadian Designers Tell Us About Their Creations (6/22/2021) - They are both initially from the Great Canadian North, and proud of their roots, the clothing and fashion accessories they create are inspired by Innu traditions while being undeniably modern. Learn more about May Ningeongan, based in Nunavut, and Erica Lugt, living in Northwest Territories, about their inspirations, their artistic approaches and their unique creative… Continue Reading
Indigenous Art: 10 Inspiring Canadian Women Artists (5/26/2021) - Their history, but also their families and communities’ history, permeate their artistic process and pave the way for their art. A creative, singular and often committed art, in which tradition and modernity join hands to combine the past, the present and the future. Portraits of 10 local native creators, whose art deserves to be in… Continue Reading
Tattoos & Seals – an Inuit Woman’s tradition (4/21/2021) - Inuit Tattoos - Revitalization of an Inuit Woman’s tradition The first time I saw an Inuit tattoo was when I travelled to Europe on a mission with Inuit crafters to promote seal skin products.   The women proudly wear these traditional tattoos and I was intrigued to learn more about their significance and history. I was… Continue Reading
The “Amauti”: much more than just a seal parka (4/9/2021) - The Inuit Amauti - The Sealskin Parka - Then and Now The Amauti is so much more than just a parka. Made from seal skin or caribou, the parka was made to protect the Inuit from the northern elements.  They were worn traditionally by women to carry their babies but fathers or male caregivers could… Continue Reading
Traditional Inuit Preparation of Seal Skins (3/26/2021) - Throughout history, the seal has been vital to the Inuit way of life providing food, shelter and clothing.  Men, women and children all have a role in preparing the seal after the hunt for its many uses. After The Seal is Harvested… After seals are harvested and are skinned by the hunter, Inuit women move… Continue Reading
Proudly Indigenous Crafts & Designs (PIC&D) What is the Ulu used for? (2/15/2021) - What is an Ulu? When I travelled to Europe with Inuit crafters, I quickly learned the importance of a unique tool I had never seen before, the ulu, a beautifully shaped all purpose knife. A beautiful handle of bone, antler or wood (sometimes painted with beautiful designs), paired with a unique blade of metal (years… Continue Reading
Proudly Indigenous Crafts & Designs (PIC&D) Sealing, a Blue Activity? (1/15/2021) - Sealing, a Blue Activity?   According to the World Bank, the "Blue Economy" is the "sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem." Seal products are the perfect example of a Blue Activity.  In addition to provide food for local human consumption, sealing allows Northern Indigenous communities to take part in… Continue Reading
Misguided Social Activism Among Generation-Z And Its Detrimental Effect On The Inuit Seal Hunt (10/28/2018) - Repost    October 28, 2018   Misguided Social Activism Among Generation-Z And Its Detrimental Effect On The Inuit Seal Hunt   "This all started back in the 80s, when ill-informed animal rights groups took it upon themselves to fight for the ban of the sale of whitecoat harp seal pup skins, which, again is illegal and… Continue Reading