I am Connie Pewatualuk raised in the community called Pond Inlet (Mittimatalik). At the age of nine, my parents decided to move out and stay in outpost camps for a few years. Whenever my mother would make a pair of kamiks or a pair of sealskin mitts, I would be sitting beside her sewing the same things with her leftover furs, but in a smaller size. I’ve been sewing since....

Growing up watching my mother sewing clothing is what I have learned from. I believe this skill was past on from generation to generation, my late great grand mother and my grandmother who were from Igloolik also were traditional seamstresses.

I stayed home parenting my three children untill they became full time students. During this time, I sewed and crochet for my children, siblings and friends. All that time I dreamed of learning how to become a Designer and having had the chance to achieve my goal is proudly treasured in my mind.

While studying Fur Production and Design at Nunavut Arctic College, in my first year I designed and made a pinstriped sealskin halter top and a women’s sealskin hooded short jacket with invisible closure, this garment is now part of the College Collection 2008. In my second year “Art Institue”, I designed and made a sealskin bunting bag inspired by women’s traditional “Ailik Amauti”, this piece and a contemporary women jacket made of sealksin and leather were also selected to be part of the Nunavut Arctic College Collection 2009. My last creation; a men’s sealskin fur combined with seal leather won third place in the Fur Council of Canada Design Contest 2009. This garment will be exhibited at the international fur trade show in Montreal – NAFFEM, in may 2009.