Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 10/00) - In a program tailor- made for skills development, a group of Iqaluit women hope what they sew today will bring revenues tomorrow.

Elisapee Davidee, who co-ordinates a 10-week sealskin sewing program through Inunnik Productions, says the goal of the program is to give participants skills they can use to their benefit.

"None have sewn before. They are all beginners. Hopefully, they can begin to sew for other companies," Davidee said.

Inunnik Productions' focus is on promoting the language, talents, culture and identity of the Inuit. The program teaches participants how to work with processed sealskins. Elders' knowledge is also incorporated into the program, which is funded by the Nunavut Government's departments of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth and Education and Sustainable Development.

The skins used were bought from Iqaluit, Pangnirtung and Qikiqtarjuak (Broughton Island).

"I want them to work with skins from different places, to see the different textures," Davidee said. The training program was targeted at income-support recipients.

The results of the course were on display at the recent Nunavut Trade Show in Iqaluit. Many passersby asked how much the coats cost.

But these shimmering elegant works are not for sale. Participants chose the style of coats they would make and they keep what they create, Davidee said.

"This is the first coat I've made and I'd like to make more," said Appea Quaraq.

Quaraq said she joined the program because she wanted to experience sewing sealskin.

"When I finished (the coat) I had tears of joy."