Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory artisan finds success in Thunder Bay

By Rick Garrick

THUNDER BAY — Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory’s Paul Francis is having success with his crafts at the Landmark Hotel, a First Nations-owned hotel located at the junction of Hwys. 11/17 and 102 in Thunder Bay.

“People are always saying, ‘You do beautiful work,’” says Francis, who moved to Thunder Bay in 1975 to attend Lakehead University. “My mom taught me how to do this. I was a social worker for 25 years, and I kept it up. When I’m making crafts, it’s almost like I’m working with my mom; it’s a good feeling. I take a lot of pride in my work; if I make a mistake on something, I take it apart and redo it.”

Francis says he usually shows his crafts at the Landmark about three times a week, usually from Thursday to Saturday, noting that he lives in the area and has about a 10-minute trip in his wheelchair to reach the Landmark.

“And I always have lots of friends,” Francis says. “The two people behind me in the chairs come and visit me and keep me company while I’m sitting here.”

Amy Ryvar, one of his friends who was keeping him company, says she usually helps Francis with his crafts every weekend.

“But he’s also taking me under his wing — he taught me how to bead, taught me how to make dreamcatchers,” Ryvar says. “And my mom was super impressed because with my disability, she said my hands really need that kind of exercise that the craft makes me do.”

Francis adds that his occupational therapist told him that doing crafts was the best thing he could have done.

“My hands are strong,” Francis says. “I’m always busy making stuff.”

Francis says he has about five styles of dreamcatchers, including some on red willow and some on red willow wood with the bark removed.

“And I have tons of varieties of necklaces and all kinds of jewellery,” Francis says. “I have tons of earrings, I do dreamcatcher earrings, dreamcatcher necklaces.”

Francis says he also has porcupine quills in small containers.

“I get roadkill from the MTO, it takes a couple of days to take all the quills off and then I dye them for people,” Francis says. “People make crafts with them.”

Francis says he also has bone chokers made with real bone material, and rattles and shakers for dancers.

“Those are all bracelets, all done on leather,” Francis says. “I ordered a bunch of those fancy little beads [that I used] on there.”

Francis says his mother taught him how to make his crafts when he was about 10-years-old.

“And I kept it up my whole life,” Francis says. “I just enjoy making stuff, and I like to challenge myself and try making new stuff. People always ask me, ‘What do you have new this year?’ so I always try to make something different.”

Francis says he usually brings some of his supplies with him to keep busy making more crafts while at the Landmark.

“I already did one this morning,” Francis says, noting that he was doing the webbing for some dreamcatchers on five 10-inch rings. “I’ll probably have them all done by the time I go home today, so I’m always working.”

Francis adds that his medicine pouches are popular.

“They’re all deer hide,” Francis says. “I need to go and buy some deer hide and start cutting out the patterns and making some more.”