Thorunn Howatt
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 28/01) - Each rich sampling of glass beads and beaver trim is like the signature of a devoted artist written in the form of a pair of authentic moccasins.

Partners Karen Wright-Fraser and Roy Erasmus Jr. opened a new store last week in the Igloo Plaza. The pair sells traditional, aboriginal art and crafts. - Thorunn Howatt/NNSL photo

And the sultry smell of tanned moose hide leaves no doubt that Whispering Willows is a place where aboriginal art can be found.

"We're different because we're authentic and also the fact that Karen is an artist and has a reputation in the art community," said the co-owner of the newly opened Whispering Willows, Roy Erasmus Jr., of his partner Karen Wright-Fraser.

"We are trying to promote aboriginal products, authentic products from as many regions as we can," said Wright-Fraser.

Whispering Willows is a small, retail store located in the Igloo Plaza in Yellowknife's downtown.

It specializes in retail and custom-made aboriginal crafts and clothing.

Wright-Fraser operated the business out of her home, specializing mostly in sewing custom clothing made of white deer skin.

"Whispering Willows has been in operation for about five years but I grew out of my house. It was just way too small," said Wright-Fraser. After thinking about the idea for the last two years she decided it was time to search for a suitable retail location, she said. So she teamed up with Erasmus Jr. and set up the cozy, little shop in the Igloo Plaza. Erasmus turned out to be the perfect partner.

"He likes to do the paperwork," joked Wright-Fraser. "A lot of artists and artisans don't like that part of the business. That is the reason why many artist's businesses fail."

Erasmus Jr. has a business background. After working toward a business degree in Lethbridge, Alta. he worked for the NWT Development Corporation.

He also has a special spot in his heart for traditional art.

"My grandmother has been beading her whole life and it is part of my culture," said Erasmus while showing off the pair of exquisitely beaded mukluks adorning his feet.

The move out of Wright-Fraser's home and into the shop happened suddenly.

She was keeping her eyes peeled for a busy location with inexpensive rent.

The partners' decision was made just in time for Christmas.

"We had a lot of stuff already and we brought some things in on consignment," Wright-Fraser said of the store's merchandise.

The products available in the store include dream catchers woven into the frame of caribou antlers, brightly-coloured ribbon shirts, fur pelts and beaded moccasins.

On last week's opening day the store was filled with beautiful things to look at but still not complete, said Wright-Fraser.

"(One) area will have sewing machines so people can see products being made and they can talk to the artists. It makes it more personalized for them," said Wright-Fraser.

She hopes to offer tourists the opportunity to learn about traditional skills and even try their hand at it.

"We are not just business people buying from artists and the customers will see that too," she said.