Inuvik (May 17/04) - As a small boy, Brian Rogers would watch his mother Effie carefully craft pair after pair of moccasins.

Later, when Rogers developed an interest in the art, his mother taught him step by step how to recreate the beaded treasures.

Brian Rogers just taught his first class on how to make traditional moccasins. He is shown here assisting participants with a sewing technique. - Dorothy Westerman/NNSL photo

"I've now been making them for 16 years," he says of the skills he learned from the gifted seamstress.

"My mother is gone now, so I try to keep the tradition up," he says.

As keeping such a tradition alive means teaching one's acquired skills to others, Rogers recently offered a series of classes to Inuvik residents on how to make moccasins.

While Rogers can make a pair of moccasins in one day, beginners can be expected to take longer.

Many steps over days of work can be involved in teaching someone the craft.

But the most important teaching skill is not using the hands, he says.

"It's having lots of patience. You can't expect to do this all at once or in one day," he says

First, moosehide leather is cut to fit the feet.

Then, intricate beading is performed on the upper part of the foot.

Usually the beaded design is comprised of floral-inspired patterns, but Rogers says it is usually the individual's choice as to the preferred colour of beads and type of flowers crafted.

"It's whatever comes to mind," he says.

After making adjustments to the leather to ensure a comfortable fit, Rogers says it is sewn together using sinew.

For trimming the tops of the slipper, he says he prefers beaver over rabbit because of the texture of the fur.

"Small hairs and fibres in the rabbit fur which fly out when it gets cut is bad for your lungs," he notes.

Rogers says if used every day, a pair of moccasins will usually last about one year.

Not only used as a household slipper, moccasins are used to go to old-time dances, as the sole is good for moving about on floor surfaces.

And traditionally, new moccasins are worn by those getting married, as well as by those graduating from school, he says.

Rogers often takes orders for moccasins, which can, at times, be a challenging task.

"Often I get orders at the last minute to make moccasins for graduating students, which can be a rush," he laughs.