Daniel T'seleie
Northern News Services

Gjoa Haven (July 11/05) - When Mary Takkiruq sees people heading out on the land dressed in a modern, goose-down parka she feels a little sorry for them.

They are not dressed warmly enough, says the elder from Gjoa Haven.

These days many people have given up traditional clothing for modern fibres, a trend Takkiruq would like to see change.

She teaches younger people in the community to stretch, tan and sew seal skins and caribou hides.

Takkiruq grew up on the land with her family and all of their clothing was made of such materials.

While still a young girl, she would practise her sewing by making miniature clothes - the kind which would fit a doll - from scraps left over from other people's work.

When Takkiruq was 10 years old, her mother began teaching her how to properly stretch, tan and sew animal skins. Her mother passed away when she was still learning, so her aunts and other relatives continued to teach her what were then essential life skills. They were a close family.

"She would love to see more of the younger generation know how to work on skins," said Takkiruq's nephew Wally Porter, while interpreting for his aunt.

Part of her wish stems from the knowledge that traditional clothing is warmer, and if parents are taking their children out on the land, Takkiruq would like to see them dressed well.

Porter says when he is hunting in the coldest months he always wears traditional clothes and dresses his three children in the same way.

Important know-how

He understands the importance of traditional knowledge. Not only wisdom relating to clothing, but also to hunting, fishing and other aspects of life. He wants to make sure this information is passed on to his kids.

"I don't want to let them lose the lifestyle that my parents and my grandparents used long ago," Porter said.

Fishing and hunting is still a part of their culture, Porter said. His kids prefer eating country food - even his 18-month-old son.

"He loves eating raw fish and caribou," Porter said.

Takkiruq says she will continue to teach younger people how to make traditional clothes out of animal skins. It is clothes like this Porter and his family will always wear as long as the weather is cold.