LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
An NWT woman best known for her athletic accomplishments shared her artistic side with students in the Deh Cho over the course of two weeks.

Sharon Firth, right, assists Sky Lennie with her earring on Dec. 5 in Thomas Simpson School. Firth held workshops in almost all of the schools in the Deh Cho on how to create feather earrings like the ones she has designed. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Between Dec. 2 and 12, Sharon Firth visited almost every school in the region, where she taught students in Grades 6 and up how to make feather earrings. This was the first time Firth, a four-time Olympian cross-country skier, has shared her jewelery-making skills.

Every pair of Firth's earrings is different. They are made of feathers of different lengths and colors, but the inclusion of a pearl is her trademark.

The development of the earrings is linked to a difficult time in Firth's life. She was at a course in Calgary in November 2011 when her twin Shirley Firth-Larrsson texted her to call because she had urgent news.

The news was that Firth-Larsson had pneumonia. Firth said she was upset and thought there must be something more to it because, as an athlete, her twin was the healthiest person she knew.

Soon afterward Firth went fly fishing and when she cast her line she was captivated by the way the lure went through the air.

"I just got so excited thinking of all the beautiful Northern women wearing my feathered earrings," she said.

That was despite the fact that Firth had no idea how to make jewelry like that. Firth's background, however, gave her a good start.

"I grew up with feathers," she said.

Living in Aklavik, Firth said there were always geese, swan, duck and loon feathers around. She also grew up in a culture of doing and making things, including traditional crafts.

"As a child, my mother taught us how to use our hands," she said.

Anders Lenes, Firth's friend and former skiing coach who is also a painter, taught her the techniques she needed to make the earrings she envisioned.

"When I got some done I showed them to Shane Thompson and he just went crazy," said Firth.

Thompson, a regional sport and recreational co-ordinator with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs based in Fort Simpson, wanted Firth to bring her new found talent to NWT communities through a youth tour. Firth, however, wasn't ready yet.

"I needed my time with my twin sister," she said.

Firth-Larsson had more than pneumonia, She had cancer and died on April 30 of this year.

Firth said she hopes that her tour, which is designed to be educational, will inspire students in their own creative endeavors and show them that not everything is about sports.

"I believe every person is creative, resourceful and whole," she said.

When people find their purpose in life they are productive, said Firth.

At Thomas Simpson School on Dec. 5 Firth and Lenes worked with 13 students who signed up for the workshop. The students started with one pair to learn the techniques, and were then able to choose different feathers and different pearls or semi-precious stones to include. The students get more intense and quieter with each pair, Lenes said.

"It really calms the kids down and it helps them concentrate," said Firth.

Angel-Rose Betthale, a Grade 7 student, said she was enjoying the session. It takes patience to make the earrings, but the process isn't difficult, she said.

"They are pretty," said Betthale.

Trenton Diamond'C, who'd never made an earring before, was making sets for his mother and sister for Christmas.

"It's fun, takes patience and I get out of doing school work," he said.

Firth was set to visit every school in the Deh Cho excepted Kakisa Lake School. The three students from Kakisa were scheduled to participate in the workshop at Deh Gah School in Fort Providence on Dec. 12.

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