Jessica Klinkenberg
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, November 7, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Before the show highlighting aboriginal fashion began at Bows and Arrows Saturday, one of the younger models admitted that she had put in a bit of practice.

Models sporting aboriginal fashions at Bows and Arrows Saturday, opened up about being a model, from the experienced to the inexperienced. From left, they are model Stanley Cook, organizer and model Ruth Mercredi and Janice Murphy with the youngest model of the group, Cheyenne Murphy. - Jessica Klinkenberg/NNSL photo

"I practised walking," said Sade Blondin, seven.

When asked if that involved putting a book on her head, she grinned and nodded.

Modeling with Sade was her grandmother Besha Blondin.

"My little granddaughter will be helping me (walk the runway)," she joked.

Many of the models showing off aboriginal fashions last weekend were first-timers to the fashion world. Modeling had not caused their egos to swell, and they were very down-to-earth.

Well, most of them, anyway.

First-time model Stanley Cook already had a stage name picked out before hitting the runway.

"Just call me Abdul," he joked.

Ruth Mercredi also made fun of some of the modeling stereotypes. As organizer of the show, she stopped short at the sight of Roberta Kennedy having some of the free caribou stew before the show.

"My models don't eat," she exclaimed, causing the room full of people to laugh.

Mercredi said it was nice to see so many models helping out, and she was glad that there were so many different ages represented.

"Family and friends just came together for this," she said.

Kennedy said that though modeling wasn't her forte, some encouraging words made her come out.

"I told Ruth I was too old and she said they liked my spirit."

Though many of the models were novices, Janice Murphy said she had walked the runways before.

"I've done it for different leadership councils," she said.

She said she's done a maximum of five outfit changes in one show, but said the average is three. With two to five minutes for changing outfits, she said she knows how to get dressed quickly.

"You want to look as well put together as possible."

Janice walked the runways with her four-year-old daughter Cheyenne that day.

Though shy, Cheyenne showed that she could pose with the best of them, and demonstrated an impressive ability to pout on command.

As one of the more experienced models, Janice had advice for anyone with aspirations of being Yellowknife's Next Top Model: "Just be yourself, be natural and work the outfit."