Cathy Kotchea
"I was born and raised in and around the community of Fort Liard where I still live with my husband-to-be and son. For me, traditional arts come from deep within my culture and from my family’s influences. I grew up watching my parents and grandparents making and selling birchbark baskets and moosehide products. In the early months of my pregnancy and sobriety, I felt the importance to carry forward my culture and artwork that I learned from my parents. My culture and my traditional teachings are very important and I would like to pass that down to my children.
In the fall time, we go out on the land to harvest moose. In recent years, I have been able to tan my own hides with the guidance of my mother. It's taken me many years and a lot of patience to learn how to traditionally tan a moosehide. My mother has been a great support and without her expertise and guidance I would not have been able to accomplish the hides that I had done. For the last 10 years, I have been beading and doing quillwork on a vary of different natural materials, such as moosehide or birchbark. I have finally gained the confidence to share my work with others, after personally hearing all the compliments I have been given."