INUVIK - Four artists from the Deh Cho region are strutting their stuff in Inuvik this week. They are part of this year's Great Northern Arts Festival - a festival which includes dozens of artists from all three territories and even a few Southerners.

Karen Kotchea, of Fort Liard, worked on some birchbark Sunday afternoon at the Great Northern Arts Festival. - Laura Power/NNSL photo

Though they are only four of many, festival staff had time to gloat about the talent brought in this year from Deh Cho.

"I was really thrilled this year with our showing from the Deh Cho," said Marnie Hilash, executive director of the festival. "I don't think we've ever had two birch-bark basket makers of the quality of Phoebe Punch and Karen Kotchea."

She added that this year is the first time the festival has ever had anyone from Trout Lake (Punch) show their work.

Charlene Alexander, one of the co-founders of the festival who now works as a curator there, was equally thrilled about the work done by Kotchea and Punch and said the region produces high quality baskets.

"I would have to say that the birch-bark baskets that come out of there have to rate number one in the world," she said. "There's very few people left doing birch-bark baskets."

Kotchea and Alexander explained that birch basket making was left alone for sometime but made a comeback in recent years.

But the baskets weren't the only items brought in by the artists. Two other artists from the region who joined in were Stevie Nande, of Fort Liard, and Justin Wanderingspirit. Nande, who draws pictures mainly of wildlife, was the youngest visiting artist at the festival this year at 16-years-old.

"I've been drawing ever since I was small," said Nande.

At his young age, Alexander can already see his potential.

"He's very emerging, but (shows a) very, very promising future as an artist," she said.

For the artists, this festival is a way to showcase their work and meet the people who buy and admire their work. Kotchea, who is at a point in her career now where she travels often for workshops, explained the importance of such a festival for a young artists like Nande.

"Everyone gets to meet them and get to know the artists behind the craft. For emerging artists that's very important," she said.

The four artists will soon return to their communities after a busy time at the festival.