Annual fair showcases work of Aboriginal artists

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The Aboriginal Artists Fair at Prince Albert National Park provides a unique setting for buyers and browsers alike. The scent of burning sweetgrass greets you at the door and the drum group CD playing softly in the background is accompanied every so often by the call of a loon from nearby Waskesiu Lake.

"It's a really excellent forum for the public to meet Aboriginal artists on a one-to-one basis. You're standing there in front of the artists asking them questions as they work," said Henry Fremont, manager of Aboriginal affairs for the national park. "For me it's certainly a learning experience, just seeing the vibrant culture continuing through art."

On Aug. 19 and 20, the work of more than 30 artists was on display at the community hall in Waskesiu.

Because 2005 has been declared the Year of First Nations and Metis Women, this edition of the fair focused on celebrating women. Friday night's activities included a reading by Saskatchewan's poet laureate Louise Halfe and fashion shows by designers Disa Tootoosis and Berna Beaulieu, with commentary provided by Gordon Tootoosis.

"We made a concentrated effort to bring in more women crafters," said organizer Sheila Hansen.

One of those exhibitors was Rosella Carney of Weyakwin. Between sales she worked on her birchbark bitings, generating interest from park visitors who hadn't witnessed the technique before. Using paper thin squares of folded bark and her eye teeth, Carney produced intricate patterns of turtles, flowers and insects.

Hansen, a soapstone carver from the Macdowall area, was busy showing her own items while ensuring the fair went off without a hitch. Her family and friends lent a hand, preparing food for the artists and keeping the tea and coffee flowing for a steady stream of customers.

"Parks staff helped out wherever they could, too," Hansen said, "They were there on site and they helped set up and clean up.

"They really do a lot for us. The artists all get free entry into the park and they can camp for free. They also pay for the hall and my salary."

Not that Hansen is in it for the money. Organizing this type of event takes an enormous amount of planning and fundraising just to cover all the bases.

"We really do everything on a shoestring," she said. Hansen isn't sure if she'll take on the challenge of co-ordinating the artists fair for a fourth time, but said she's been pleased with the way the fair has grown since the first one was held in 2003.

"The third year is the turn around year," she said. "Last year wasn't bad, but the first year was borderline dismal as far as sales went. But that's to be expected. As far as I'm concerned it's not out of the ordinary at all. Even the second year I noticed a difference. There were less people that came through the doors but more buyers."

Fremont hopes the fair stays alive and well within the park, both for the exposure it brings the artists and the cultural understanding it fosters.

"People just really enjoy the Aboriginal culture and traditions and along with that, their art. It's been very well received by the public."

Beaulieu was so happy with the response garnered by her collection-a marriage of traditional Aboriginal and haute couture clothing-that she staged an impromptu encore presentation of Friday's show on Saturday afternoon. Most of her models had already gone home, so she enlisted the help of audience members, including Fremont, who worked the runway in a beaded buckskin jacket. Modeling won't be a threat to his day job.

"I don't think I'll keep it up," Fremont said. "But anything to help out."