Marlene Tutcho

Histoire de l'artiste

My mom is the reason I started beading. I was born and raised into traditional crafting because my mom was born and raised the same way. From a really young age, I could see her working on the crafts that she learned from her own mother. That’s how I grew up, and that’s how I learned.  She made slippers, moccasins, mitts, parkas — you name it, she could make it! I am really thankful for my mom and everything she continues to teach us.

I do a lot of beadwork now, mostly flowers sewn on caribou or moosehide. That is how I carry my beading. I get my inspiration from my grandma, Louisa Baton. She is the one who started it all with her beautiful beadwork. I always felt I had deep roots, and felt that one day I could become like my grandma.  After seeing my mom and my sisters walk in her footsteps, I was encouraged to hold on to my dream of beading and sewing like they do. That dream is now a reality!

One day, my husband asked: “What do you really want?” I said: “What I would really love is to have a sewing room”, so he built me a sewing room in our home. After supper, I just go in there to work on my projects from 7 to 11pm every night. On weekends, I spend most of my time sewing. To me, it’s like therapy. I feel complete peace of mind when I sit in that sewing room.

When I am making mukluks for my babies and grand-babies, I will start by lightly drawing flowers on the uppers, and from there I start beading. I choose colours that I think will stand out and go best together, which comes naturally to me. When the uppers are done, I make the slippers from caribou or moose hide. I then sew it all together. The last step is to add fur trims, usually natural or black-dyed beaver or black, grey, or white rabbit fur.

I feel connected to my traditional values through making arts and traditional crafts. It connects me to our Ancestors and to how they lived. I know how hard they worked. Seeing my grandmother, my mom, my sisters’ beading and tanning hides, I felt the urge to carry these values and traditions to the next generations too.

I am proud of myself today because I am able to make traditional clothes for my grandkids. Mostly, I am so thankful for all the teachings that were passed down in my family and for how they gifted me with the knowledge that my kids can one day pass on to their kids too.

Biographie de l'artiste: 

Marlene is originally from Délįne. She works a full time job during the day, and sews or beads every evening and weekend in her sewing room. Marlene practiced for many years before becoming the avid beadworker and seamstress she is now. Her children are now grown and taking care of their own young families, but Marlene is ready to teach them traditional skills whenever they are ready. Marlene sells her artwork through her Facebook page: Marlene’s Creations Bead Work.

Dernière mise à jour : 23 mai 2023
Région : 
Sahtu
Collectivité : 
Deline
Numero de téléphone 1: 

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