Into the North

              get-together party, prompted the Editor of Northern Lights to dub them the "Lights of the Mackenzie". The programs were varied, with reports of projects and demonstrations by the delegates. Miss Margaret Myer, from the Federal Department of Fisheries, delighted the audience as she demonstrated new ways of cooking fish. Some of the delegates, used to Northern food, surprised Miss Myers. by asking for a piece of raw fish to eat. Later two of the delegates told me they enjoyed the meals at the Hostel but were pleased to be invited to a friend's home where they were served smoked fish for lunch. Branches brought craft displays. From Tuktoyaktuk came their Centennial project, quilt blocks with Northern designs, and an Eskimo family of dolls, soap stone carvings and Tukpiks. Reindeer Station provided horn buttons, ornaments, a cleverly trimmed parka and mukluks and a Reindeer doll. Fort McPherson showed porcupine quill work, beaded necklaces; Fort Simpson added birch bark baskets, an embroidered gun case, slippers and mukluks; Fort Smith also contributed mukluks, moccasins and crow boots (high open tongued moccasins); Aklavik brought a completed quilt and, most appropriately, the NCWI crest designed in beads; Delta (Inuvik) highlighted its display with a caribou parka, complete with hood, mukluks and gauntlets; Fort Norman's showpiece was a beautifully embroidered stroud jacket and gauntlets; Discovery proudly displayed its Tweedsmuir History and special events crafts, such as Christmas stockings and Easter eggs; Fort Providence demonstrated their speciality, moosehair embroidery, on velvet and moosehide panels. Moosehair embroidery is an intricate process. The hair is clipped 'from the hide when it is long and thick and dyed with either plant dyes or commercia] dyes. A design (usually flowers) is marked on the panel. The strands of moosehair are fastened to the design and then cleverly clipped to give shape to the petals and leaves. To keep it p]iable while using, the strands of hair are kept in the mouth. Moosehair embroidery is said to be an original Fort Providence craft and they are specialists in this. Their W.I. entry in the Free Needlework Class of the International Competition, sponsored by the Associated Country Women of the World, won second place and was later sent on to another International Exhibition, sponsored by the Embroiders' Guild of America, New York City. An Inuvik delegate modelled the caribou outfit and explained the arduous task of tanning hides. First the remaining bits of flesh were scraped off, using an ulu; the hide was washed with soap and water, or a solution made with the brains of the caribou; finally the hide was hung up to dry. Years ago the hide was made soft and pliab]e by using their teeth, but today they have a special tool. We were told that a woman who could not make her husband's boots was in danger of being cast off in the olden days. These displays clearly bore out our proud boast - "If you want to secure colourful, original crafts, visit our Northern Canada craft shops". The banquet was an exciting segment of the Convention. The W.I. Presidents in attendance, took their places at the head table with Mrs. Matheson, FWIC President; Mrs. Ellen Binder, toastmaster; Mrs. Tom Butters, soloist; Mr. Tom Butters, Editor of THE DRUM. Both Mrs. Matheson and Mr. Butters in their addresses pointed out the responsibility of women to help bring peace to the world. A moving feature of the program was the singing of "The Hymn of All Nations", first as a solo by Mrs. Butters and then by aIL Drum dancing, with Eskimo costumes, added a co]ourfu] ending to the program. A worthwhile feature of the Convention, the first time the native women of the North had met together, was the formulating of four recommendations ]7