Our Last Day in the Far North (this trip)
Making a berry basket
Constance and I returned to Da Kų for another morning of sewing…this time Sharon taught us how to make a birch bark berry collecting basket. How perfect is that? Berries are Constance’s favourite food!
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The Book
Constance was very pleased with the berry-collecting basket. She posed with it in front of a stack of books in the Da Kų gift shop!
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Kjerstin Mackie lecturing
Coincidentally, the Quimper Hitty human and several other authors had spent the previous evening offering insights on various chapters of that very book. All of us had written chapters or otherwise contributed to:
Kwädąy Dän Ts’ìnchį: Teachings from Long Ago Person Found
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Click here for a link to information about the book. Please forgive the following shameless self-promoting…
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The three editors of the book are the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations Heritage Planner Sheila Greer, Royal BC Museum Environmental Botanist (Emeritus) Richard Hebda, and the Quimper Hittys very own favourite photographer, BC Archaeologist Alexander Mackie.
The Quimper Hitty Human wrote Chapter 26, co-authored one other chapter and contributed to others. The book was long in coming, but we are thrilled to have all of this information publicly available at last. Some of us from the south were lucky enough to able to attend the Northern launch of the book. We are so grateful to the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations for their hospitality, and generosity.
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Road to Whitehorse
The trip was way too short, but so rewarding. It was wonderful to meet people, sew with experts, see the mountains and snow, and help to present a project I have been involved with for nearly 20 years!
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Warm
Constance wore her new regalia all the way home. Sharon had advised me to add a fur edging to the regalia… and when I asked if I could cut the rabbit fur a little narrower, she gave me a look, and said, You have no idea how cold it gets up here…Constance needs every bit of that fur!
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Memories
We will never forget this trip!
Thank you – Kwä̀nä̀schis – to everyone who made it happen!
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Constance and Kjerstin, thank you so much for sharing this trip! My Hittys and I enjoyed this adventure immensely. Kjerstin, congratulations on the publication of the book and soo wonderful that you were able to attend the launch!
We thought it was wonderful too, and are so grateful for the chance to go to Haines Junction to participate. I am glad you were able to enjoy this experience along with us!
Congrats on the book, your opportunity to be there for the launch and sharing it all with us.
The book was long in arriving, but so welcome – we are happy to share the joy!
I join my voice to the congratulations on the book and the new regalia and berry basket…and my heartfelt thanks for taking us along!!!!! I never imagined I would ever see Yukon!!!! Well…I should have expected that a dear Hitty born in Constantinople would have the travelling gene!!! 😘
Constance does have “itchy feet”, I think many Hittys do. I am always glad of her companionship as she is small, uncomplaining and inspires me to find or make little useful things for her (like baskets). We are so glad about the book, and very much appreciate your kind comments!
Congratulations! I am thrilled for you! Thank you so much for sharing with us!
It is exciting about the book, isn’t it!? The trip was amazing, and I am happy you were able to join us!
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful adventure with us. I love your blog and forward it to family so they can enjoy it too.Jan F
Thank you Jan – I was happy to share the adventure with you (and you family!) – travel is way more fun with company!
What a memorable trip! Congratulations on your book! You have made some lovely minis also! I never tire of seeing the Quimper talent in action!!!
It was memorable…and thanks for the congratulations – we are inordinately pleased with ourselves!
Congratulations to everyone involved in the book, I’m slowly reading my way through every word and enjoying it immensely. How wonderful that you could enjoy sewing classes, Constance looks so cozy in her fur trimmed regalia and she can use the basket for her knitting until it is berry time.
That is great that you are reading the book – it is rather a tome, but we thought the content was important to keep together! Good idea about the berry/knitting basket!
I’ve loved every bit of the story of your involvement in this project. It’s so special.
Thanks very much! We definitely feel privileged to have been part of the project!
Clap, clap!! Lots of applause and admiration from the Country Hittys and me!! I am sure the lectures were wonderful especially YOURS. Congrats for all the contributions you and the Favorite Photographer made to this project. And of course a bow to Constance… looking like the Frost Queen of the North in her regalia. Just lovely.
Thank you very much, we are pleased with the reception at the book launch – all the talks were great! We are glad you like Constance’s regalia – I like knowing she will be warm and cosy, as well as looking regal if she gets invited to a ceremony!
I have so enjoyed all the postings about your trip to the Yukon Territory. Who wouldn’t have loved the morning sewing classes. Thank you for all the pictures.
You are welcome, we had so much fun!