Elders come together to share stories, friendship, and teachings

By Rick Garrick

THUNDER BAY — Biigtigong Nishnaabeg Elders Beatrice Twance-Hynes and Edna Fisher enjoyed creating moccasins with other Elders during Anishinabek Employment and Training Services’ Elders Moccasin Making Workshop on March 30-31 in Thunder Bay.

“I made moccasins for my son — it was really nice to get together with the other Elders to make moccasins and to learn how to put them together,” Elder Twance-Hynes says. “The kit was made by Ed-Digenous Traditions. She instructed us on how to make the moccasins, how to measure our feet, and to lay it out so that we could cut it out. It was nice to also learn from each other as well and to make those connections or reconnections with others and to chat.”

Elder Twance-Hynes says they were able to finish both of their moccasins during the two-day workshop.

“What I’m thinking of doing is using acrylic paint and painting an eagle’s head on [the moccasins],” Twance-Hynes says. “I really enjoyed it, it was so nice to get together with the other Elders and to chat, to laugh, to tell jokes and stories.”

Elder Fisher says the workshop was really interesting.

“I met a lot of people, a lot of new Elders, which was good,” Elder Fisher says. “I had a lot of fun, lot of laughs, shared stories and listened to other stories.”

Elder Fisher says they learned how to make the puckered toes of the moccasins during the workshop.

“You sew the edge at the vamp,” she says, noting that they marked and pinned the leather at three points, the centre, and both sides. “And you weave your needle through from one corner to the other dot and you kind of pull it together.”

Elder Fisher says her sister had previously taught her how to make rag moccasins a few years ago out of a fleece material.

“My sisters are into crafts,” Elder Fisher says. “There’s nine of us and she taught all of us.”

Jason Legarde, a Confederation College student on placement at AETS and Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek citizen who helped organize the workshop, says it was really beautiful seeing all the Elders getting together for the workshop.

“This was my first time actually working alongside them,” Legarde says. “It was pretty awesome to see and to be a part of. During our program at the college, we always talk about helping Elders and all that — this is my last placement, I’ll be graduating and this is kind of a good way to go out.”

Legarde says some of the Elders knew what they were doing during the workshop.

“There’s one actually who took the top part home and came back with two butterflies already sewn onto it,” Legarde says. “So it was awesome.”

Camille Ferris, the workshop presenter from Ed-Digenous Traditions and a Constance Lake citizen, says they had a good time during the workshop.

“Everyone enjoyed themselves,” Ferris says. “It was good to make connections with the Elders and other people and staff at AETS.”

Ferris says the moccasins they made were an Anishinabek design.

“We’re based in Thunder Bay,” Ferris says. “These [moccasin] kits are new — we just released them in January.”

Ferris says the moccasin kits included leather, lining, rabbit fur for the cuffs, sinew, and needles.

“The moccasin kits are tailored to your own size,” Ferris says. “I helped them trace out their foot for their moccasins and I helped them cut them out.”

John Ferris, owner and operator at Ed-Digenous Traditions, Camille’s father and a Constance Lake citizen, says Camille created the moccasin kit design.

“She combined all the materials and tools that were needed for each of the packages,” John says. “Everything is all included in the packages with illustrated instructions, which is easier to understand and to read.”