Making moccasins for the many an act of love

Marjorie Brunet has been extra busy this fall. She has made moccasins for the entire Ben Calf Robe School student population of 200.

Bryan Richardson is principal at the northeast Edmonton school. "Having Marjorie consent to make all these moccasins represented a huge undertaking. We are getting the students ready to share their culture and their dance expertise at CBC's Centre Stage in the station's broadcast centre downtown on Nov. 4," he said. The school's drumming and singing team will be performing as well, accompanying the dancers.

Richardson said that the school's annual spring powwow features an initiation of those who have committed to living the life of the dancer. "When you dance, you are sending your prayers to the Creator. It's a big step for the students and it follows a series of sweats in preparation for the powwow. We bring Elders in to instruct the kids on the meaning of the dance and how to do the steps," he said. "They earn the right to dance." This year, more than 100 students were ready for initiation, so he realized that all the students wanted to begin to assemble their own personal regalia, which they would continue to build throughout their lifetimes.

"There is such an overwhelming cultural identity in the school, which is wonderful, when you consider the competition for their attention that the modern world has created," he said. "The students learn that they can still walk the path in the good ways, honoring the Creator at all times." New moccasins for every student became a goal and the search for funding was answered when Trident Exploration stepped forward. "We have been doing our own fundraising throughout the year as well," he added.

Dancing is an important part of the children's lives. "They are promising to honor their grandmothers and grandfathers in terms of walking the journey, and living a clean lifestyle, uninfluenced by the entrapments of modern life," he said. "They learn all styles of dance, and we're working on getting the regalia, although we have yet to acquire all the bustles for the men's dances, but that will come."

The Aboriginal way is to give, and performing on Nov. 4 is part of that giving, he explained.
"Our Elders, including Marjorie, are to be commended. They are a constant source of help, passing on their teachings and helping our children to learn to honor their culture. She is being paid a modest amount for making the moccasins, but she is putting in a supreme effort," he said. The students drew the outline of their right foot and sent it to her as a pattern.

Although Richardson is non-Aboriginal, he has been steeped in the culture for many years, serving in the Peace River country where he had many Elders as mentors.

"They've shared with me and I've been privileged to be part of many special traditional events. The spiritual leaders have taught me the history of many aspects of the traditions and teachings."
At Ben Calf Robe, he says, the focus has been gradually shifting towards the performing arts, which have been blended into the students' academic studies, giving them an identity that shows up in excellent attendance records.

"As well, four years ago we only had one student show up for initiation, but this year every child in the school will dance, so there's been a wonderful resurgence of pride and commitment amongst the students," he said.

Brunet has been making moccasins and doing bead work since she was five years old.

"My mom taught her daughters to do traditional crafts in our home in Fort Chipewyan," she said. "And I taught my own daughters as well."

She said the prospect of making 200 pairs of moccasins for the school has been fun, but a little daunting as well.

"It was a big project, but my husband Luc pitched in and did all the cutting of patterns from the hides. And my daughter Simone is helping with the beadwork so it's turned into a real family enterprise."

She has designed a similar pattern in the beadwork, but has varied the colour of the beads to express each student's individuality. "The older ones get stars. So there is a theme, but still some variation between the different pairs," she explained. She enjoys helping the students experience their culture by wearing hand-crafted moccasins.

"It's my heritage too, so it means a lot to me to see the kids dancing in my slippers." She's pleased to know that the children's performance on Nov. 4 is going to be recorded and shown later this fall on The Link, APTN's new showcase for youth-based television programming. A pair of mukluks that she fashioned was featured recently in Metis Matters, the newsletter of the Metis Nation.

She keeps busy sewing and displaying her goods at Canada Place on National Aboriginal Day in June, at trade shows, at the Alberta Legislature, and at the recent Metis Assembly in Lac la Biche.

"My work has gone all the way to Germany and Switzerland," she said. She has 13 grandchildren and is enjoying her role as kokum (grandmother), having raised seven children, five of her own and two adopted.

Richardson said the entire school staff appreciates Marjorie's contribution. "We are thankful that together we have given the students the beginnings of an awareness of a traditional lifestyle, one that they will build on long after they leave here," he said. "They have gained the knowledge they need to walk the good red road throughout their life."