BEHCHOKO/RAE-EDZO
Berna Beaulieu knows the importance of keeping tradition alive.

Her dedication to preserving and promoting tradition is evident in all the clothing she creates through her business, Wedahti Fashions, she said.

Berna Beaulieu: Behchoko-based clothing designer says she is honoured to win Minister's Culture and Heritage Circle Award. -

"I'm just thankful for the older generations, they're the ones who taught us all this," Beaulieu said.

"I'm just trying to continue what they left for us."

Beaulieu was recently chosen as a winner of the Minister's Culture and Heritage Circle awards for her work, according to the territorial Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

"Berna has dedicated her life to her art and sharing it with the NWT and abroad. She provides cultural tradition in a very relevant and modern way - providing ceremonial and wedding clothes using modern and traditional tools," a news release from ECE stated.

"She employs local artisans and is an inspiration to others to pursue their passion and talents. She is a lifelong learner and has persevered against hardship to make her the success she is today."

For Beaulieu, the award couldn't have come at a better time.

After taking a break from her business, she had just begun taking new orders when she heard she had been chosen for the award.

"It's prefect timing, I was ready," she said.

"I'm just excited. I really want to get back into it now."

Beaulieu started her own clothing line, called Creations By Berna, in 1997.

Specializing in wedding attire, formal wear and ceremonial clothing, she quickly learned how popular her products were - especially her white deer hide and satin wedding gowns.

"The orders were coming in fast and I was in demand for fashion shows," she said.

Beaulieu's work has been showcased at the 1998 Arctic Winter Games and at a fashion show in Munich, Germany in 2002.

Her designs were also on the runway during L'Oreal Fashion Week in Toronto in 2006.

Now, Beaulieu said she would like to try putting together her own fashion show featuring native designs.

While making wedding dresses, Beaulieu hired a local woman to do beadwork and began expanding her list of products.

"By this time I learned how to customize on my own because I know the pattern already," she said.

Hiring locally is important, Beaulieu added.

"I'm hoping their (native) designs, all their traditional designs will be in the fashion show," she said.

"It would create jobs for them, mainly for single parents because they need help. Or kids in school could help me."

Beaulieu's commitment to her community was recognized when she was chosen as the winner of a Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002.

"The award focuses both on the achievements of those people who, over the past 50 years, have helped create the Canada of today, and on the achievements of younger Canadians who are actively contributing to our future," according to a statement from the Governor General of Canada.

Getting an education is also important to Beaulieu, she added.

In 2002, Beaulieu began attending the Yvonne Yuen School of Design in Saskatoon.

Once finished, she also took the Administration/Computerized Accounting program at the Alberta Career Computer Centre in Edmonton.

Now, she's focusing on re-launching Wedahti Fashions and getting a website up and running. She said her friend Madelaine Chocolate has been her biggest supporter. It was Chocolate who nominated Beaulieu for the minister's award.

"I'm so honoured about that award," she said.

"I just want to thank my friend who supported me and who nominated me and to the minister for selecting me."

Beaulieu said hard work and dedication are keys to her success.

"To me, there is no such thing as, 'You can't do it'," she said.

"I always find a way to do certain things."

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.