Sew & Sew Skills Lab comes to Athabasca schools

November 7, 2024 in Giving Back
Explorer: Fall 2024

This spring, schools in Hatchet Lake (Wollaston Lake), Black Lake, and Fond du Lac joined the “Sew & Sew Skills Lab” community.

Created by the non-profit organization I Love First Peoples (ILFP), Sew & Sew is a program that equips remote community schools across Canada with sewing labs, including quality sewing machines and supplies, so they can teach a valuable life skill through traditional projects in the school. ILFP has numerous sponsors for this program, including Janome Canada, PVH Evolugen American Eagle, and Manitoulin Transport, as well as many more in-kind and individual supporters.

“Before they approached us, I Love First Peoples and Athabasca Denesuline Education Authority had done a lot of work sourcing equipment, human resources and materials, and just needed a sponsor to help them fill in some gaps,” said Kristy Jackson, Director of Marketing & Communications with Athabasca Basin Development. “We were happy to be able to help them bring these opportunities to youth in the Athabasca communities. I had an opportunity to see students using the sewing equipment first-hand while I was in Fond du Lac, and I was so impressed with the students and their dedication to their projects.”

Students worked on a variety of projects, including toboggan covers, ribbon skirts, bags, zippered pouches, baby clothes, mittens, drawstring bags, doll clothes, and more.

ILFP Sew & Sew Program Coordinator Jenny Ambrose traveled to the Athabasca communities in January and February 2024 to help the schools get everything set up and worked with teachers to help them get the most out of their new equipment. “We are thrilled to partner with ILFP,” said Brenda Gabriel, Superintendent with Athabasca Denesuline Education Authority. “Our students were ‘sew’ thrilled with Jenny’s visit and are excited to start their next project! Thank you for venturing into our northern Saskatchewan communities.”

Jenny Ambrose thoroughly enjoyed her time in the Athabasca region. “These trips have been full of adventure, learning, and growth,” said Ambrose. “I am overwhelmed by all the amazing people I have met and hearing the community around me speaking Dene every day was so inspiring. There is a resilience up here that is truly unique to the North.”

https://www.ilovefirstpeoples.ca/sewandsew