Shabot Obaadjiwan Craft Show Wraps Up Program

Nov 20, 2013

Members of the Shabot Obaadjiwan First nation along with other local artists and crafts people participated in a celebratory art and craft show on November 23. The show marked the end of a special two-year workshop program put on by the Shabot Obaadjiwan First Nation and the Northern Connections Adult Learning Centre in Sharbot Lake. The program, which was funded by the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation, included a number of workshops, most of which took place at St. Andrew's Anglican Church in Sharbot Lake over the past two years. The workshops included mitten, moccasin and jewelry making, leather work, beading, a medicinal herb walk and workshop, and more.

Jenny Tryon, who is the events and programs coordinator with Shabot Obaadjiwan, said the art and craft show was a way to thank the many crafts people who shared their knowledge and skills at the workshops. Tryon said the program was unique and successful and was “a great opportunity for people to learn traditional native art and craft making”. As a result, many who participated in the workshops went on to make and sell their own work. Tryon said that she is hoping to see funding for the program continue. “These programs and workshops are a great way for people in the community to benefit from learning each other's cultures and they encourage people to get together, to laugh, share and learn in a very relaxed environment.”

The art & craft show, which took place at St. James Major Catholic Church, included musicians and many makers of traditional native crafts that included bead and leather work, traditional ceremonial regalia, moccasins drums, rattles, jewelry and more. Judi Montgomery of Napanee, who was selling her traditional ceremonial regalia at the show, was one of the artisans who headed up a decorative moccasin workshop earlier this year. She said it is important to keep these native crafts and knowledge alive. “Ours is a culture that is being lost. The people that know how to do these things are getting older and dying off so we as younger people need to pick up these traditions and pass them on to the younger generations that come after us. If we don't continue and pass it on, it will be like the language and will eventually disappear.”

Linda Clarke, who regularly caters for Shabot Obaadjiwan events, put on a traditional lunch that included moose burgers, bannock, wild rice pudding and pilaf. Proceeds from the lunch were donated to the Sharbot Lake Food Bank.