Sarah Lennie | Taught By Moms

Jan. 20

Sarah Lennie
Taught By Moms

EDGE GALLERY, FEBRUARY 3 - 25, 2023

In November, when trapping season opens, Nanuks (Grandmothers), moms, sisters, aunties, daughters and children gather to eat, share stories and begin sewing the embroidery and wool for (Atteghe) parka, mukluks, hats and mitts.

Sewing circle is the time to pass on patterns, ideas and material. These highly organized women take turns hosting, cooking and performing childcare in their homes. A beautiful teaching, learning and bonding tradition, sewing circle eases the long, cold winter evenings. The skinned hides the trappers, hunters and gatherers bring home are then shed, cleaned, dried and scraped to be cut to use.

Sealskin and caribou hides are made into outerwear. Pieces are embroidered, beaded and inlayed for feasting and dancing festivities. For up to 10 days and nights, we sing, dance, play and eat. Stories, delectables, furs, tools and thoughts are traded during this time of celebration.

Taught by Moms honours the sacredness of this practice. It highlights the bonds that are built through sewing circle; the hidden labour that goes into crafting clothing for specific northern landscapes; and the voices and lives of the women that echo through the finished pieces.

SARAH LENNIE

Sarah Lennie is an Inuk artist from Ikahuk (Banks Island)