Fort William First Nation partners with Mishkogeeshik Art & Supply to host Traditional Belt Making Workshop

By Rick Garrick

FORT WILLIAM FIRST NATION — Fort William hosted a traditional belt-making workshop by Mishkogeeshik Art and Supply’s Kelvin and Georgina Redsky and son Brady on Nov. 13 at the CNRA Building in the community.

“This has been our number one workshop throughout the communities in Treaty 3 and Robinson Superior and some of the NAN (Nishnawbe Aski Nation) communities,” says Kelvin, a Shoal Lake #40 citizen from Treaty #3. “This is just one of our many workshops, we do workshops like regalia-making, rattle-making, beadwork workshops, moccasin-making. This [belt] is part of their regalia.”

Kelvin says every dancer wears a belt with their regalia whether they are male or female.

“The things that we hear when people make belts is, ‘Oh, I’ve always wanted to learn how to do this,’ or ‘I’ve always wanted a belt and I didn’t realize it was that easy,’” Kelvin says. “What you’re seeing is inspiration, we’re inspiring these people.”

Georgina, a Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek citizen, says their goal was to teach people about what they had learned over the years.

“We started bringing our family into it because it’s naturally what they’ve seen their whole lives,” Georgina says. “It’s nice to see our son out working with his own people. He’s got that gift of sharing and knowledge, which is something we didn’t have at his age.”

Georgina says they have worked with First Nations, cities, and organizations to do the workshops.

“It’s just nice to see people creating something that’s kind of been lost and it’s for them to make their own, to build their own skills,” Georgina says. “It’s beautiful to see the young ones in here and our men are coming back to these circles. My husband was the one who taught me how to sew, he taught me how to craft so it really builds that balance. It’s been exciting and we always try to incorporate the medicines in it.”

Kelvin says people already knew who they were because they had been following the pow wow trail for about 20 years.

“It’s our way of life, so it really took off,” Kelvin says. “A lot of people really want to get back to their culture, back to their traditional ways. We’re just there to help guide that way of life.”

Georgina adds that the intention of the workshop is for people to learn something and to have fun doing it.

“So it’s always nice to see the smiles and the laughter,” Georgina says.

Fort William Elder Myria Esquega says she was making the belt for her regalia, noting that she has been dancing on the pow wow trail for about 30 years.

“It’s been fantastic,” Elder Esquega says. “The teachers are amazing. I picked the black belt and the copper [conchos]. It will go with my orange ribbon skirt — it will bring it out.”

Chelsea Morriseau, a Fort William citizen, enjoyed helping the others with the buckle attachment process.

“I’m just making sure that everyone gets through the night,” Morriseau says. “That’s kind of what I like doing is helping everybody. I love doing crafting, I’m an avid beader myself so I definitely enjoy doing these types of crafts and activities.”

Amber Beacham, a Fort William citizen, says the workshop was a good experience.

“It was spur-of-the-moment and I’m happy that I came,” Beacham says. “It’s not hard to learn so we can keep going amongst ourselves. It’s fun talking, gathering, laughing. I made one for my daughter and my mom is making one for my youngest. It’s always good learning, so we can teach to our little generation coming up.”