Derek Neary
Northern News Services

FORT SIMPSON (Aug 06/99) - The last couple of months have been pretty hectic at Nats'enelu as renovations have been the order of the day.

"The whole summer has been construction, dust and no power," says D'Arcy Moses, director and designer at the Dene-inspired clothing shop in Fort Simpson. But as he glances around at the results, he's clearly satisfied with what he sees.

"It's a nice work-space and it's comfortable," he said, adding that he and the other employees sweated it out last summer in the "unbearable" heat. "A lot of people are surprised when they come in here because it's been transformed."

A wall was knocked out to expand the traditionally-styled merchandise display and reception areas. The staff room also grew. In addition to the air conditioning, a new furnace was installed and plumbing and electrical work was carried out. The only thing that seemed to suffer was the bathroom, which is now essentially an "outhouse" in the back, Moses said, smiling.

The work is far from through, however. A loading dock is being built, halogen lights will be installed to highlight the merchandise and fresh coats of paint will be applied to the walls.

An open house is being planned, likely in September.

"We've basically organized our space to maximum efficiency," Moses explained, adding that the funding came through RWED, Human Resources Development Canada and the NWT Business Development Corp. He said plenty of support has also be offered by the Local Training Authority, Liidlii Kue First Nation and the Deh Cho First Nations.

Now the goal is to have production brought up to maximum efficiency, Moses noted. Several new pieces of automated equipment, such as sewing machines and cutting machines, have been acquired to help accomplish that goal. There are some machines designed to work with fur and others that will even perform intricate blanket stitching. Each machine has a list of features that Moses described excitedly.

"We have, literally, cutting-edge technology," he said. "Stuff that companies in the south could only dream of."

Seamstress Bernice Bonnetrouge, who has been with Nats'enelu since February, said she can't wait to use the new sewing machines.

"We're anxious to try them," she said, adding that she believes they will really speed things up.

Bonnetrouge is one of nine people employed within the building, eight of whom are full time. That's up from six staff members when it opened 18 months ago. As well, there are close to 20 women around the region doing beadwork and embroidery for various products such as jackets and moccasins.

The quality of the work has improved dramatically over the past year and a half, according to Moses.

"They can compete with any other manufacturer," he said of the employees' abilities. "I think they've come a long way. This would be nothing without the women who show up at 9 a.m. everyday for work. They're the backbone of Nats'enelu."

Moses has committed to another year with the enterprise and said he's determined to stay until it becomes fully self-sufficient. That, he predicts, is just a matter of time. With increased efficiency will come a healthy profit margin, he suggested. Also, a couple of the employees have stepped up to fill positions such as production manager and administrative director.

The line of merchandise has expanded, but the philosophy is to concentrate on a few products at a time until they are perfected for the local market, he explained. Then the growing demand from outside the region can be tackled. That demand is being created, in part, through advertising in newspapers, magazines, on a Web site and even through a colourful, glossy, magazine-style newsletter that Nats'enelu has created for itself.

The high visibility strategy has led to the sharing of retail space with Northern Images in Yellowknife and the potential to sell coats in Whistler, B.C., this fall. They have also tied in to the Mackenzie Valley Furs line.

"I'm beginning to learn that it doesn't matter where you are, if you've got a good product and good marketing, you can make it anywhere," Moses said.