Vendor Expo at Timmins Native Friendship Centre brings community closer to Indigenous roots
A vendor expo at the Timmins Native Friendship Centre on Sunday, gave people in the community an opportunity to buy authentic Indigenous handcrafted items such as moccasins, beaded jewellery and a variety of artwork.
Annie Weesk, originally from Fort Albany, has lived in Timmins most of her life and for the past forty or fifty years she said, she's been handcrafting moccasins and knitted socks. She said her late mother-in-law, Laura, taught her.
"A day a pair to make yeah, same with these (knitted socks) I make two socks a week," she said.
The Timmins Native Friendship Centre organized the one-day event to give artisans a place to sell their goods.
Various types of beaded jewellery was available from a number of vendors, all showing different styles. Dec.5/21 (Lydia Chubak/CTV News Northern Ontario)Various types of beaded jewellery was available from a number of vendors, all showing different styles. Dec.5/21 (Lydia Chubak/CTV News Northern Ontario)
“The beading; the painting; the sewing; and all of that. That’s all stuff that we learned from our grandparents and unfortunately I never picked up on any of that good stuff," said Caitlyn Kaltwasser, a youth employment worker at the Timmins Native Friendship Centre.
"I’m happy to bring the people that do together so people like me can purchase beautiful things as well.”
Feather Metatawabin is selling prints of her late father's original artwork. She said he was sick and died while waiting in a hospital emergency room. Twelve years later she said she's ready to work at keeping his art and memory alive.
“Now that I’m growing older and I’m realizing the truth more. I’m in university. I’m learning a lot about colonization and Canada’s dark history and it just made me appreciate and be proud that I’m native. I understand my father now," she said.
Officials said items purchased here not only serve practical purposes, but are infused with knowledge and spirit from the Hudson and James Bay Coasts.
"They put their heart and soul into this work," said Kaltwasser.
David Laneville of Timmins said he comes regularly to support the artisans at these vendor expos.
“I have mitts that are well over 40 years old and so they last for a long time. They’re warm as all get out. Again just quality stuff from the artisans that are here."
Shopping and chatting can work up an appetite and 'Indian tacos' were served for lunch--deep fried bannock is used instead of a tortilla shell.
This vendor expo is celebrating its eighth anniversary after taking a two year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.