Craft fairs in the N.W.T. draw dozens of vendors, young creatives

Craft fair season kicked off this weekend in Yellowknife, with a sale at the Northern United Place bringing together dozens of vendors. 

Organizer Sandra Bowden says the vendors booking tables are younger than one might expect. 

“I’ve been organizing for five years, and there are new names every year,” she said. She’s been selling her crochet pieces in Yellowknife for the last 13 years. She’s seen more young people picking up the hook, part of an “explosion” of creators after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It was no longer a dirty word. It was no longer just an old lady word,” she said. “So many young people have taken up the art of crochet and that makes me very happy. Maybe I’m an old lady, but it is not an old lady thing.”

And with new blood comes a new understanding of what artists are making.

“I was probably doing sales for at least five years before another artist actually convinced me that what I was doing was art,” said Bowden.

She says the craft community in the N.W.T. is very connected and supportive. The sale on Sept. 19 was a fundraiser for an artist in need. Bowden said the table fees raised $1,100. 

“I like to convince other people that they can get out here and there’s a market for their very unique and creative items,” said Bowden. 

One vendor at Saturday’s sale, Karen Wright-Fraser, says after a mostly solitary creation process, craft fairs are a way to connect with other artists, as well as showcase her work and culture. She’s noticed new faces as well. 

“From about 10 years ago or so, I started seeing a lot more younger people doing traditional sewing and arts and crafts. And I realized a lot of them were learning from Pinterest and YouTube,” said Wright-Fraser. 

She said that access is especially important for Indigenous creators. 

“Because a lot of our elders are gone,” she said. “Some people who are living in urban settings, a lot of them, they do not have access to that. So the online things are awesome.”

Having more people creating is a good thing, says Bowden, as the demand from shoppers for handcrafted art is also rising. 

“There is a resurgence of shoppers who really want to support local and support homemade and handmade,” said Bowden. 

Kevin Butt has been selling his handmade wooden game boards for around five years. He says he’s always seeing new faces, both behind the tables and perusing the wares. 

“People want something quality, not something that everybody else is gonna have,” said Butt. “You’re not going to go to somebody else’s house and they pull out the same board.”

Even though September is earlier than usual for the season to start, Bowden said they had a steady stream of shoppers from the time the doors opened on Saturday. 

“The tables are already booked up until Christmas,” said Gerri Sharpe, a creator selling beadwork, jewelery, and mittens at Bowden’s fair.

“Direct sales is key for artists, especially those that are traditional artists.”

Whether the continuous string of buyers is a reaction to a changing economic landscape or an appreciation for the artisans’ talent isn’t clear. But one thing is certain: Yellowknifers are here for it.