The NisgaB次元官网网址檃 MuseumB次元官网网址檚 first-of-its-kind fashion show at Gitlax瘫tB次元官网网址檃amiks in the Nass Valley of northern B.C. wowed the audience with a dramatic blend of modern and traditional First Nations designs. Nov. 26 was the only available date for the venue and it so happened to also be Indigenous fashion week in Vancouver.

Models sported a striking blend of colourful and more sombre tones that reflected the theme of the evening, B次元官网网址渇rom darkness to lightB次元官网网址� based on a NisgaB次元官网网址檃 story of how the people found light at the beginning of time.

Renowned NisgaB次元官网网址檃 designer Lillian Tait, whose work inspired the show, recounted the story as told to her by her grandfather when she was young girl.

B次元官网网址淚n the beginning our people were living in darkness. They were living in longhouses and when they got together they got together in the darkness. They were singing their songs by the fire and this chief was praying and he was crying, talking to the Creator.

B次元官网网址淲hile he was praying he cried and the people were crying with him. After a while they got up and then the lights were starting to come, and they were celebrating and then it became really bright.B次元官网网址�

The story is a part of TaitB次元官网网址檚 rich knowledge of NisgaB次元官网网址檃 culture that inspires her work, that sheB次元官网网址檚 using to light a fire in the next generations. B次元官网网址淚 was young once too, and I wanted to know who I was,B次元官网网址� she said.

The runway show included TaitB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址楩rom Darkness to LightB次元官网网址� collection, the B次元官网网址楽acred ConnectionsB次元官网网址� collection by Gitxan and NisgaB次元官网网址檃 designer Jaimie Davis and the B次元官网网址楪wiis HalaytB次元官网网址� collection by NisgaB次元官网网址檃 designer Vanessa Morgan.

Theresa Schober, who is director of the NisgaB次元官网网址檃 Museum, was deeply moved at being able to raise awareness of local talent and to offer a first runway experience to Pearl Morrison, who dreams of a career in fashion.

In MorrisonB次元官网网址檚 own words, she is B次元官网网址渋nterested in modeling and fashion design because nothing is off limits, you can let your creativity flow.B次元官网网址�

Schober and her team wanted to showcase designers with deep cultural ties, expressed through fashion and regalia, on a larger stage. Schober said they might try to connect the event with that larger Indigenous fashion week platform in Vancouver in future years.

B次元官网网址淚t was wonderful to see the youth and designers be so supported by their community. The camaraderie after we all came off the runway was a highlight of my time working for the NisgaB次元官网网址檃 Museum.B次元官网网址�

Lillian Tait collaborated on the show with her husband, NisgaB次元官网网址檃 master carver Alver Tait, a hereditary chief of the Eagle-Beaver Clan, who explained how the darkness to light theme holds significance today.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been through so much with the residential schools. That was what you would call darkness, also. We were in it for a long time. That to us was darkness.

B次元官网网址淔inally we started to see light. Now we see light. We can own our own homes and we donB次元官网网址檛 have to answer to anybody. ItB次元官网网址檚 a real new beginning. ItB次元官网网址檚 an awakening.B次元官网网址�

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michael.willcock@terracestandard.com