Artists
Louie Gong
Nooksack, Ruskin British Columbia
Louie Gong was raised by his grandparents in Ruskin B.C. and the Nooksack tribal community. As a small child living in a home with no running water, he would help his Chinese grandpa collect buckets of drinking water from a nearby spring and then help his Native grandma (Nooksack, Squamish) make a bannock on their Coleman camp stove.
Contribution to Manitobah Mukluks: Nationally recognized mixed race activist, and founder of Eighth Generation - he merges influences from his mixed heritage and urban environment to design his highly sought-after, hand-drawn custom footwear.
Rosa Scribe
Cree, Norway House Cree Nation
Hailing from Norway House, Cree Nation (population of 5,000), Rosa Scribe is a soft-spoken and inspirational mukluk Cree artist. Perfecting her craft for over 25 years, Rosa learnt the techniques of the mukluk art her grandmother, also the woman who raised her. Today, Rosa is a teacher at The College of the North, instructing adult students the art of the mukluk.
Contribution to Manitobah Mukluks:Using the proceeds from her mukluks to fund supplies for her students, Rosa is a proud member of The Story Boot Project.
Annie Madeleine McKay
Cree Nation, Grand Rapids
Annie Madeleine McKay was Cree from Misipawistik Cree Nation (Grand Rapids). Mother to eight children, Annie spent each early Spring working the trapline at Summerberry marsh with her husband. Annie mastered her art by handcrafting clothes for all of her children, including mukluks, moccasins, hats, jackets, sweaters and socks.
Contribution to Manitobah Mukluks: The late Annie Madeleine McKay designed and crafted the original StoryBoots from which we produce limited editions and share the proceeds with her family and community.
Edna Nabess
Cree, Mathias Colomb First Nation
A Cree from Mathias Colomb First Nation, Edna raised five children by making moccasins, using skills learned from her Cree grandmother and mother. Today, at her store in Winnipeg, Edna makes designer dresses with beadwork, fringe and other Aboriginal themes.
Contribution to Manitobah Mukluks: Edna Nabess designed and crafted the original storyboots bearing her name, and continues to work with us on designing beadwork patterns.
Sosan Montour
Mohawk, Bear Clan, Kahnawake
Born and raised in kahnawake. Mohawk. Bear clan. 37 years old. Sosan started making moccasins when she was 24. She took a course with her aunt at the local cultural center. From there she kept building on her knowledge of traditional Mohawk embossed (raised) bead working.
Contribution to Manitobah Mukluks: Sosan has made a commitment to learn the traditional art forms of the Iroquois, including moccasin making and bead working, and to pass this knowledge on to her community.
Heather Steppler
Wolf Clan, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation
Heather Steppler's maternal ancestors were musically, artistically and spiritually inclined and include traditional birch bark biters and medicine women.
After obtaining a Fine Arts degree, Heather embraced her heritage by learning beading, medicine picking, Aboriginal crafts and attending powwows with her husband and two children.
Contribution to Manitobah Mukluks: Heather Steppler drew the designs and interpreted them for the bottom of our
Vibram sole.
Margaret Gordon
Ojibwe, Manitoulin Island, Ontario
Margaret Gordon has been creating traditional crafts for much of her life. She specializes in beadwork, birchbark and quill work and dedicates her work to the memory of her dear departed mother, Nora Maiangowi, who passed on these traditional skills to her.
Contribution to Manitobah Mukluks: Margaret Gordon crafts all the Birchbark Point of Sale material for our retail stores. We hope to preserve this craft.
Dorothy Grieves
Contribution to Manitobah Mukluks: Dorothy Grieves created one of a kind story boots available by special order.
Joyce Harper
Contribution to Manitobah Mukluks: Joyce Harper created one of a kind story boots available by special order.