Indigenous artists get a hands-on experience on entrepreneurship
By Rick Garrick
THUNDER BAY — A group of artists from the Thunder Bay area recently participated in a values-based entrepreneurship workshop presented by Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto (IFWTO) representatives Kerry Swanson and Sage Paul.
“It was really good because it made me understand my value,” says Fort William beading artist Sheila Demerah. “I think a lot of time we underprice our work. We just don’t understand the value of it, so it was just realizing how to do that.”
Demerah also appreciated the opportunity to learn more about speaking with the media during the workshop, which was held from Jan. 22-25 at the Baggage Building Art Centre in Thunder Bay.
“I think I’m getting better at standing in front of people, talking to them, telling my story and how I began doing my beadwork and what my moccasins represent,” Demerah says. “For me, my story always begins with my sister because she was my teacher.”
Demerah plans to participate as a marketplace exhibitor at IFWTO, which is scheduled for May 28-31 at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto.
“It’s exciting and it’s new, because I’ve never sold at any sort of craft [sale] — all my sales have been direct, person-to-person, emails or messages,” Demerah says. “There’s [going to be] so many vendors, so you’re wondering, ‘Are they going to be interested in what I have? Is my product unique and different?’ And I think it is.”
Demerah plans to sell her beaded and porcupine quill moccasins at the marketplace. Her work was recently included in the Thunder Bay Art Gallery’s Their Breath in Beads exhibition from Sept. 27-Nov. 10.
“My main focus is moccasins — that’s my passion because I really love creating things for people to wear and knowing they are going to enjoy them and the comfort in them,” Demerah says. “It’s nice hearing feedback from people saying how much they love them and how beautiful they are, so it’s like wearable art because it’s not just beads, it’s like a picture.”
Swanson, director of development of IFWTO and a Michipicoten citizen, says the workshop was designed specifically for Indigenous makers to think about ways to build their business or take their practice in a new direction.
“This group is coming to IFWTO in May — we’re doing a spotlight in our marketplace on this region and this is kind of in preparation for that,” Swanson says. “There was a big focus in the workshop on storytelling, how to tell the story of who you are and where you come from in relation to the work you do in a way that connects with potential audiences, buyers, funders.”
IFWTO is scheduled to feature four runway shows, more than 50 marketplace exhibitors, an art exhibit at the Harbourfront Centre Artport Gallery, a lecture series and hands-on workshops.
“There is a whole range of work at the IFWTO marketplace and this spotlight on the region will show the diversity of the work that comes from this region,” Swanson says, noting that the workshop participants create a range of work including beadwork, birchbark work, jewelry, moccasins, leather work, prints and t-shirts. “Our marketplace in general shows the diversity of Indigenous craft. So I think this work [from the Thunder Bay group] is going to fit in really beautifully as well as stand out as being unique to the region and to the individuals who make it.”
Swanson says the first IFWTO was held in 2018 with four nights of runways as well as panels, workshops and the marketplace.
“The atmosphere was just joy, pride, celebration and cultural expression,” Swanson says.