Yellowknife (Oct 23/06) - A Northern export is getting ready, once again, to make her mark on the international stage.

Behchoko's Berna Beaulieu is preparing for a show in Japan, following the fashion designer's planned showing in Toronto for L'Oreal Fashion Week.

"I'm going international," she said from her new home in Edmonton last week. "It's very exciting, I just can't believe it."

The show happens in January, she said, and it is her second major show outside of North America. The first was in Munich, Germany in 2001. This time, however, she said things will be different.

"I know exactly how I want to do things this time. I know every inch of my business," she said.

"Last time I was kind of pushed into it. It was too quick, too soon."

For years, Beaulieu crafted and sewed her unique, traditional Dene fashions in Yellowknife, through her company, "Creations by Berna." After her marriage fell apart, she said a bout of depression sent her in search of something new.

"I carried that depression for years. I blamed myself for everything," she said.

"I turned to education as a healing tool."

She spent years developing her trade at the Yvonne Yuen School of Design in Saskatoon, where she now holds a series of diplomas.

"I'm willing to start all over because that's my calling, I guess. It's what I love doing."

While the L'Oreal show could be a boon to her career, for a short time, Beaulieu was unsure of how she would pay for housing at the event.

As of last Thursday, she had not received any funding for the show that weekend.

However, at the last minute she received a call from the Tlicho Investment Corporation, offering its support.

"Everything fell in place, and I'm really happy about it," she said."No matter where I go, I'm Treaty 11, I'm one of them," she said.

"I'm the only artist who is bringing their name up with me."

If things pan out, Beaulieu said she wants to share the wealth up North.

"I miss people and I miss all my workers," she said.

"All the workers in the NWT, I hope they're standing by, because I'm going to need them in about a year.

"I'll be creating more jobs out there for native women."