QAMANITTUAQ/BAKER LAKE
A parka-making course delivered by elder Alice Mannik through support from the Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA) was a huge success in Baker Lake this past month.

Mary Niuqtuq proudly displays the beautiful jacket she made her daughter, Kaylie Grace Niuqtuq, during a special parka-making program in Baker Lake this past month. - photo courtesy of Alice Mannik

Alice Mannik had held the thought of holding such a program in her mind for quite awhile.

Mannik said she wanted to use her knowledge of sewing traditional clothing such as parkas, wind pants, mitts and kamiik to help others in the community of Baker Lake.

She said once she decided she wanted to go ahead with the program, she began looking for ways to fund it.

"I filled out a proposal to the KIA and it was accepted, but I still needed a place to sew," said Mannik.

"I was looking for a place at the hamlet, Nunavut Arctic College, and here and there, when the local Wellness Program approved my idea and provided the space we needed.

"I had more than 10 ladies sign-up, but I only had enough material for 10 women to participate.

"We sewed from 9 a.m. until 12 and from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and then we completed the parkas on Saturday evening."

Mannik said eight of the 10 participants sewed a parka for the very first time.

She said the other two were more experienced, but were still having trouble with the zipper and pockets.

"All of the ladies did a really, really good job and most of them really got into sewing during the week.

"They didn't look like they were beginners any more at the end of the week.

"A few of them told me they were going to buy a sewing machine and materials to make more clothing for their families.

"I was very happy to hear that and I told them not to give up, and if they ran into trouble with anything they were doing, they could let me know and I would help them."

Mannik said traditional-skills programs are very important to the community.

She said the traditional way of Inuit is to help each other a lot, and programs like this keep that spirit alive while also developing or improving traditional skills.

"Helping each other develop our traditional skills, back with our parents and grandparents out on the land, was the only way of survival back then.

"And, I'm trying to use my knowledge to keep our traditional ways going strong in our community.

"I was asked to do another program or two on wind pants and kamiik and I'm very willing to do that.

"I'll be writing more proposals to try and get funding for more sewing programs and, hopefully, they will be approved and we can keep this going in our community."