A cohort of 10 Indigenous artists from Yukon and Northwest Territories will head to New Mexico later this summer to attend a prestigious art market.
The Yukon First Nations Culture and Tourism Association and Northwest Territories Arts Program partnered with the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts to bring the cohort to the Santa Fe Indian Market in New Mexico.
The organizations said in a release there has been “minimal participation” from Yukon and NWT artists at past festivals.
They said the goal is for northern Indigenous artists to get the chance to show, sell and experience the market.
The century-old market is held annually and draws an estimated 100,000 people. Upwards of 800 Indigenous artists from across North America attend the market each year.
Its website describes it as “the largest and most prestigious Native American market in the world.”
Whitehorse based artist and fashion designer Randi Nelson, who is St’uxwtéws, is one of the Yukon artists selected for the cohort.
“It’s the first cohort ever in 102 years of the market. It’s pretty exciting that they did this collaboration,” she said. “I understand Santa Fe to be a really big milestone in people’s career.
It’s really prestigious and definitely the top artists are accepted to go.”
Nelson said the market has strict requirements stipulating what artists can sell. She said it uses a grading system to ensure all items are original and made with natural materials.
“The more you prepare and make the materials yourself, like your own earring hooks, you will get more points and more value,” she said. “Also, it encourages original art. There’s no replicas, and it’s all authentic.”
She’s hopeful the items she plans to sell, as well as presenting her work in an Indigenous runway show while there, will help garner exposure beyond the North.
“I think just to be able to bring something different, something that’s unique to me and my nation and my upbringing and being able to bring it on to a different stage,” she said.
Making connections
John Sabourin, a Dene carver and sculptor based in Yellowknife, is already working on the handful of pieces he plans to bring to the market.
“I’m looking forward to meeting other artists from across North America, meeting new art galleries, and making connections with people for the possibility of other works,” he said.
Sabourin said there’s a lot of talented artists in the North, though the market is smaller than the south.
“There’s only so much art that you can sell in the North,” he said. “Ninety per cent of my carvings I ship out from Yellowknife.”
He said the market will provide a unique opportunity for northern artists to have their work noticed beyond the territories.
“I’m really excited to be part of this team,” he said. “It’s going to be it’s gonna be a lot of fun.”
In addition to the market, the cohort will also get the opportunity to meet with retail galleries as well as participate in fashion shows and an awards ceremony.
The market is set to take place Aug. 16 to 18.
