``It was as if a starter pistol had been shot!`` said Brooke Christie and Ben Pries. The RAA Moccasin making course began with an explosion of information and activity as thirty families, community members, Learn to Landers, pilots and partners began the challenge of making their own boots from scratch Friday night at the Lyncrest Flight Centre. Dominique, Marissa, Jeanette, Angela, Rick and Jill volunteered as instructors, sharing ancient techniques used by Metis, Cree, Dene, and Circumpolar Inuit. Participants paid a small course fee, used to pay for the Lyncrest Flight Centre hall rental. Ulayok Kaviok and Elisapea Allaloo's skin boot hand measurements were used to create patterns. Participants brought old fur coats, sheep skins, deer, moose and elk hides, rabbit skins, old wool blankets, shrunken sweaters, canvas, and other recycled material they found at 2nd hand stores. Diana even found a bit of caribou skin in her storage cupboard that she`s planning on using as warm insoles.
Participants studied examples traditional caribou, reindeer, seal and duffel footwear made by Indigenous Peoples: Saami from Northern Europe, Evenki from Siberia, Inuvialuit from Alaska, Inuit, Metis, Dene and Cree from Canada, and Inuhuit from Greenland. By the end of the evening, everyone had drafted their own patterns, cut out their material and many began sewing amidst a wonderful din of swapping information, materials, and stories.
Saturday, everyone is sewing on their own. Sunday we meet again to fine tune the fit, finish sewing, explore decorative details, add draw strings, sole treads, and explore other traditional Indigenous footwear styles. Numerous participants asked for a Mitten Making workshop, we`ll schedule that for January, contact jill_oakes at umanitoba.ca if you`re interested.
Jordan Janisse, Rob Poapst, Talithia Kaethler, and Brooke Christie set up in front of the fireplace for a cozy and relaxing evening of making moccasins.
Learn to Lander Darlene Stewart (lft), Laura Van Den Bruth (Laura was in Jill`s Home Ec class in Grade 10 at Carman Collegiate!) and Carrol Brown (rht)
Diana Sawatzky and David Heinrichs (U of M Biology students from Rick`s Wildllife Management class - last weekend they were out on a trapline with a local trapper and had Beaver roasted over an open fire)
Sarah Freeburn and Ameena fondly recalled being at the Lyncrest Flight Centre last winter, when they built an igloo and then slept in it for the night!
Several participants came with other family members and worked in small groups, sharing material and helping each other figure out the patterns.
Ameena Bajer-Koulack brought her whole family and network of friends, including some from the Roseisle-Carman area, who embrace alternative lifestyles and shared a wealth of innovative ideas and skills.
Diane Martineau (left) had never sewn before so she stuck close to Learn to Lander Wilma Wood, a master quilter. Dominique (middle) loves to sew and volunteered as a co-instructor.
Emily got swept into taking the course by her sister, and was one of the first to get her boot patterns cut out.
Marissa Selmam recently completed her Private Pilots Lic and volunteered as a co-instructor (lft).
Benjamin Pries has made several pairs of moccasin and is keen to integrate a solution to fitting issues in the pair he is making this weekend.
Marissa (lft), Brianne Harkness (standing), Jill and Marlowe Heinrichs double checking the fit.
Jeannette Mockford, U of M Archivist and an avid seamstress volunteered as co-instructor, helping groups of beginners get started and plan their projects.
Dominique is 100% bilingual, which sure made it easier for Ann and Nicholas Manager, two travellers from France who are working at the Falcon Lake ski lodge.
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