Dog sled blanket exhibit blends artistry and tradition at Fort Smith, N.W.T., museum

A new exhibit on dog sled blankets currently on display in Fort Smith, N.W.T., blends artistry and tradition.

The exhibit, called "Tāpis: A Love Letter to Our Dog Kin," showcases nine dog blankets made by six Indigenous artists. The Northern Life Museum & Cultural Centre in Fort Smith is hosting the exhibit.

To accompany the travelling exhibit, the museum is also displaying two historical sets of dog blankets from its collection, which were made in the 1940s.

Named by the French Métis and known as 'tuppies' by the English and Scottish Métis, tāpis are blankets made to be draped over sled dogs, and are often decorated.

Adele Arseneau, a Cree and Métis artist, began working with tāpis over a decade ago. She said she was inspired by her late dog Nîcimos, whose name is a Cree word for "my sweetheart." 

Arseneau saw the blankets as a way to honour the sacred bond between Indigenous peoples and their sled dogs. She said her goal was to reconnect with her family traditions and address the loss of cultural practices caused by colonialism.

"We didn't lose this culture. It was taken from us. It was eradicated," she said. "These chains were broken, and it is such a thing of joy when people see this exhibit and hear those bells."

A collaborative project

Arseneau said her work with Velma Olsen, a beader of Northern Tutchone, Han, and Gwich'in descent who grew up in Mayo, Yukon, was central to the project. Olsen mentored Arseneau and passed down techniques and stories from her own experiences.

Also central to the project was a 20-week online residency where Arseneau mentored four bead workers, guiding them through creating their own tāpis. She said all the artists involved are Indigenous.  

All six artists contributed tāpis for the show. Olsen created three, Arseneau created two, and the four beadworkers who took part in the online residency — Debbie Dillon, Jaimy Fischer, Vicki Fraser, and Carrie Moran McCleary — all contributed one blanket each. 

Arseneau said it was also important to work with artists from northern Canada to ensure the widespread distribution of the knowledge and skills associated with tāpis. She said she asked two other artists to choose the participants, but she had specific directions.

"I said they've all gotta be really far apart, so that way different communities will have access," she said. "I wanted to help other women my age have access to stuff that they may not have had."

By involving bead workers from different regions, she hoped to plant seeds of revitalization in communities throughout the country and create a network of artists who could continue teaching and sharing the tradition, ensuring it would thrive for future generations.

Growing up away from her ancestral lands, Arseneau found it challenging to access teachings and traditions tied to her heritage. She said this project became a personal journey of rediscovery and a way to bring together others who shared similar experiences.

"My family always had a special relationship with dogs. My father told me about his family having a team of dogs in Batoche," she said. "We had tāpis, although I don't know where my great-grandmother's work went." 

Arseneau saw the blankets as a way to honour the sacred bond between Indigenous peoples and their sled dogs.

'I thought it was really exciting'

Debbie Dillon is a Fort Smith artist and one of the participating beaders. She said she has a deep family connection to the tradition as well, and the project held special significance for her.

"My great-grandfather, Andrew Kunnizzi, also had a dog team," she said. "My mom told me that they had prepared and helped make these dog blankets for his dog team."

Dillon said dog sledding is a significant part of Indigenous history, and without efforts to learn and teach these practices, they could have faded entirely. The process of creating the blanket also gave her a sense of pride and a personal connection to her heritage.

"[Dog sled teams] are something that isn't very common anymore," she said. "I think it's really important to continue with the traditions and learn more about culture, which is what I'm trying to do."

Dillon said she plans to continue making blankets and refining her skills. Eventually, she wants to share this knowledge through workshops, ensuring that others can learn and carry on the tradition.

"I really want to remember how to do it so that I can continue to do it," she said. "The whole idea was to get us to retain that knowledge, but also to pass on that knowledge."

A part of Northern history

Isaiah Wiltzen, curator of the Northern Life Museum & Cultural Centre, said the exhibit has been a big hit.

"It's been really well received so far," he said. "A lot of the people comment about how intricate and beautiful the beadwork is, and I personally think it's some of the best beadwork I've ever seen."

He said the exhibit isn't just about showcasing beautiful beadwork and preserving a part of northern history. The project also highlights the cultural importance of dog teams and the artistry behind the unique blankets.

Wiltzen said the exhibit shows the historical significance of dog teams, which were once essential for transportation and survival.

"When you talk to elders of the communities, they'll talk about how they remember trappers coming in at Christmas time or holidays with all their dogs done up in beautiful dog blankets," he said.

"It's just a point of celebrating both the return of the trappers but [also] their connection with their dogs and how important they are."

Wiltzen said dog blankets are experiencing a resurgence as an important Indigenous art form. He said it's crucial to remember the stories and heritage behind the dog blankets, and to keep these Indigenous traditions alive and thriving.

"Adele has done a beautiful job of starting a resurgence of Indigenous art in the communities," he said. 

The exhibit runs until the end of the month in Fort Smith. Arseneau said she welcomes inquiries and support from those interested in hosting the exhibit.