Reclaiming culture through crafts - Publication Date |
- Nov 19, 2021
- Episode Duration |
- 00:47:22
Indigenous people who relearn traditional crafts, like beadwork or making mitts and moccasins, are sewing pieces of their culture back together, one stitch, one bead and one quill at a time.
After facing a devastating family loss, Alley Yapput moved to Thunder Bay to be closer to his mom, Madeline . But this Ojibway/Cree Two-Spirit artisan found his newly retired mom wasn’t doing much with her time. So he picked up his needles and beads and ‘passed up’ the traditional craft of beadwork and moccasin making, creating a stronger bond in the process.
Mi’kmaq have been making quill art for generations. This intricate and painstaking process involves softening, dying and weaving porcupine quills onto birchbark. Cheryl Simon and Kay Sark are artists from Epekwitk, also known as Prince Edward Island. Not only has this traditional artform helped them find their way to culture, they also share their knowledge on a podcast. CBC producer Isabelle Gallant shares their story in her documentary "Meet the Quill Sisters".