Fashion design career of choice for Disa Tootoosis

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Disa Tootoosis already has a name that's familiar to a lot of people-her father is renowned actor Gordon Tootoosis, (Dances with Wolves, North of 60). But the 29-year-old is also making a name for herself, within the fashion industry.

Born and raised on Poundmaker Cree Nation, Tootoosis graduated from Eric Humber high school in Vancouver where she lived while her mother Irene completed her master's degree in social work at the University of British Columbia. Tootoosis too decided to make social work her career, but after a year-and-a-half at the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College in Saskatoon, she knew that this career path was not for her so she dropped out of the program. Acting was another option for her, but she wasn't really interested in pursuing that path after seeing how hard her dad worked.

Tootoosis explained that it was her dad who inspired her to become a fashion designer. While growing up she would accompany him as he worked on different locations, where she would find herself spending a lot of time with the costume designers backstage. She'd often marvel at how fast they would put together outfits for the cast.

Today, Tootoosis is working as an instructor at Yvonne Yuens School of Design in Saskatoon, and often travels to several communities throughout the province when she is invited to present her designs. She gets inspiration for her designs, which feature geometric shapes and applique, from the powwows she attends and the magazines she is constantly looking through. She makes powwow outfits, jackets and vests.

Tootoosis lived in California for four years. She spent two of those years in Long Beach where she studied at Brooks College and graduated with an associate of arts degree, and spent the other two years living in San Diego. While living in California she made extra money by competing in powwows as a jingle dress dancer. She said that she is not in the industry to make a name for herself. She just wants to make a living at what she does.

"I love what I do because fashion is always changing. It is always evolving, It is never the same. It is always challenging because you have to stay on top of fashion. It is always different every time. Nothing is ever the same.

"You have to know what your customer wants and how they want to portray themselves. I feel an awesome accomplishment when I see people using the clothes that I've designed," she said.

Tootoosis' latest project was designing the costumes for the Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company's production of Wawatay, which had its Saskatoon run from May 24 to June 6.

"It is a lot of work to do the fashion design for the play, but it is a lot of fun.

"We sit down with the whole production team and with the writer, the director, the stage manager and all the technicians. We break down each character, how they are going to be portrayed, their ages, where they live in the story and where the play is taking place. There is a lot of detail for each character, because each character is different."

Tootoosis said that she always loved school because both of her parents stressed the importance of education and that her parents are very supportive, attending most of the shows she is in.

"My parents have always been supportive in anything that we do. My dad was really strict when it came to getting an education. He was outspoken about it while my mother was softer in her approach, so there was a balance there. They both agreed and never changed their minds on how important education was. I had a lot of awards in school for maintaining my grades," she said.

Tootoosis, who is a single parent to three-year-old daughter Aidyn, has three brothers and two sisters. She said that her parents were always family oriented and there were always cousins and relatives in her house while she was growing up.

"Family is very important for my parents. It comes first before their work and before anything else. They are the happiest grandparents. They jus love their grandkids.

"My parents took in everybody and everyone. They always helped out if anyone ever needed help," she said.

Family is very important to Tootoosis as well, and she works hard to set a good example for her daughter and her other family members.

"I make sure that I portray a good healthy lifestyle for my family. I do not drink or do drugs. I struggled with that kind of a lifestyle in the past but I decided it was not for me. It is very hard work staying sober, but I'm happy now because that kind of a lifestyle was slowing me down. It was holding me back. It seems like there is no healthy balance between Aboriginal people, alcohol and drugs, and I really do not think that it helps anyone," she said.

Tootoosis believes that any one can get into the fashion industry if that is what they want. "It is not as far fetched as it seems. It is very accessible but you have to expect to work hard. You don't just work 9 to 5 and go home. You are always thinking and designing constantly," she said.

"Right now there are a handful of Aboriginal people going into design. I'd like to see more people interested and getting involved. Aboriginal clothing designs will always be in style. We have women of all ages at the school and we have one male student, which is why we want to attract more males because it is an industry for everybody, not just for women," she said.