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IKAAHUK/SACHS HARBOUR
Donna Keogak has many full-time jobs. She is the corporate manager of the Sachs Harbour Community Corporation, as well as the mother of six children, four of whom are now grown, and a foster son.

Donna Keogak models a parka during the White Fox Jamboree Traditional Dress contest in May, 2011. Keogak, who started a sewing group in Sachs Harbour six years ago, is pictured wearing the mitts and purse she made during sewing classes. She also volunteered for the White Fox Jamboree. - photo courtesy of Leigha Keogak

But despite her already-busy schedule, Keogak still finds time to volunteer in her community.

She is the leader of a bi-weekly sewing group, which takes place every Wednesday and Saturday evening.

"It's grown bigger and bigger and we've got a lot of talented seamstresses in the community," Keogak said.

Keogak said she got the idea for the group six years ago after taking a workshop in Yellowknife and decided to try and secure funding for a program in Sachs Harbour. Since then, the group has been teaching many of the community's girls and women how to sew.

"A lot of people really didn't know how to do it, we relied on the elders to make everything we used," she said. "We used to have to buy from somebody else, but now we make our own. A lot of girls make their own for their families."

At the beginning, about five women gathered to sew together. Now, the group sometimes receives more than 20 women and girls, some as young as 12 years old.

"For our small community, that's quite a bit," Keogak said.

The average number every week is about 10 participants, she added.

Local seamstresses are hired to teach classes on Wednesday nights, but Saturdays are completely run by volunteers, Keogak said.

Women create travel bags, purses, hats, parka covers, gloves, mukluks and even laptop covers.

In addition to learning new skills, the group also enjoys just getting together, Keogak said.

"It's relaxing for the women," she said. "They get together and some women tell stories and they help each other and they teach each other."

Keogak also volunteers during various community activities, such as recreation department fundraisers and the annual Halloween party.

She said she mostly does the cooking for community events, but sometimes helps with setting up as well.

She said she believes in sharing her time to benefit other residents.

"Even though I do have a family, I do feel it's important for people in the community," she said. "We do it mostly for the kids in our community right now."

Her daughter, Andrea, the Sachs Harbour youth committee's elder and youth co-ordinator, said her mother's attitude has encouraged her to want to share her time as well.

"It's inspired me to start volunteering with youth," she said.

Andrea also said she knows the community appreciates her mother's dedication.

"I think it's very good and it's something that keeps the community busy," she said. "A lot of people seem to enjoy it."

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