March 14, 2022
Visitors to the Snow Castle in Yellowknife got a special treat on Sunday as the courtyard was taken over by Fur Funday.
Presented by representatives of the GNWT’s Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur (GMVF) and NWT Arts Programs, afternoon castle-goers had an opportunity to browse through a pop-up market of hand-crafted fur products and enjoy a youth-focused presentation on the NWT’s fur trapping industry and what it means to traditional harvesters.
Attendees also had the opportunity to participate in a “trapper” relay race, and dress up in fur for the fur photo booth. Some, lucky enough to be on hand at exactly the right time, were able to witness the skill and respect demonstrated by a trapper skinning a beaver.
The GMVF program is delivered by the Departments of ITI and ENR to support NWT harvesters in their traditional livelihoods and ensure that they receive the best prices for their furs at auction. The GMVF brand, under which NWT wild fur is sold, is recognized worldwide to represent the best fur on the market.
The NWT Arts program, delivered by the Department of ITI, provides training, support, marketing tools for NWT artists to sell their art.
Both programs serve to meet the GNWT’s STATED mandate commitments to increase employment and economic diversification in the territory’s small communities.