Haida designer wins award

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Dorothy Grant has been on the cutting edge all her life. The 43-year-old member of the Kaigani Haida people of British Columbia is renowned for unique Native fashion designs that highlight her artistic talent in everything from ready-to-wear to exclusive, one-of-a-kind collections. Grant's famous button blankets, spruce root hats and other garments combining art and Haida culture are on display in prominent collections and exhibits worldwide.

At the pinnacle of success in the international design community, Grant is proud to be recognized by her peers and especially her own Haida people as a recipient of this year's National Aboriginal Achievement Award in the Business and Commerce category.

"The jury panel is quite successful in its own right," Grant said. "It is an honor to be chosen. The past recipients are great company to be in."

Last June, the University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George, awarded Grant an honorary doctor of laws degree. She was singled out for her talent and her commitment to promoting and maintaining Haida culture in her work. Grant was also recognized as an "outstanding" role model among First Nations people.

There have been many other endorsements of her work. In 1993, the Canadian Council for Native Business gave Grant the "Best Professional Designer" award at its Winds of Change design competition. The award included a trip to attend a fall fashion show in Paris, France, where Grant was feted for her design acumen at the Canadian Embassy.

Grant, originally from Hydaburg, Alaska, started sewing for her younger sisters at age 13. Today her name is synonymous with the term "wearable art."

Grant produces clothing in a range of prices and styles that reflect traditional Haida shapes and designs. Her casual line includes jackets, sweatshirts and embroidered men's shirts, while the Dorothy Grant label features silk-screened and embroidered garments. The high end Feast Wear label showcases traditional Haida regalia with hand-cut applique; these garments are reserved for ceremonial use. Fifty per cent of Grant's clients, she says, are Native people.

This entrepreneur has been a singular presence in Northwest Coast fashion design since the early 1980s. Her Feast Wear includes the elaborate Raven Creation Tunic that made its debut at Expo '86 and is now permanently enshrined in the Canadian Museum of Civilization. An ancient Haida myth that depicts Raven releasing Haada Laas (Children of the Good People) from the clam shell is translated through Grant's artistry to the tunic. That garment is one of Grant's favorites. Another classic, her copper creation known as "Hummingbird Copper Panel Dress," is also displayed at the Museum of Civilization.

Other Grant designs can be found in the National Gallery of Canada. Her Seven Raven Button Blanket, once part of a touring exhibit by Canadian Aboriginal artists, is an example.