Native women handcrafting new line of jewelry

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An innovative new collection of jewelry, produced locally under the name of "Designs by NA-KISKA," promises to be a winner in women's fashion circles this year.

The collection of designs, which is referred to as the Forest Collection, includes an array of earrings, pin sets and necklace sets that are meticulously handcrafted by Native women at a manufacturing plant in Edmonton.

"This line of wearable art is created from fine porcelain clay, together with colored glazes and god or silver plate," says Johan Louw, general manager of Business Assistance for Native Alberta Corporation (BANAC), the marketing division for NA-KISKA.

BANAC's marketing arm, Native Creative Group of Canada Inc., markets the jewelry, hand woven area rugs by cree-Ations Weaving Company Ltd. and art reproductions of various Native artists.

The jewelry is carried by the United Cigar Group, department stores like Eaton's as well as top-of-the-line gift stores like the Piccadilly Place Store. And objective of the company is to open new markets for Native-made products.

"We have eight salespeople across Canada and parts of the United States with 350 accounts buying on an ongoing basis.

As well we always have an open mid to innovative ideas and we are constantly researching new products to manufacture or assemble and market.

More products will result in bigger sales and that will equate in more employment opportunities," says Louw.

The 10 ladies on the production line manufacturing "Designs by NA-KISKA" jewelry enjoy the creativity of their work. A complex process if followed from the first firing of the clay, through the mixing of colors, the delicate painting and decorating and on the final touch-ups and additional time in one of three large kilns.

Many of them are juggling careers and parenting, but all express satisfaction and pride in their work.

An added bonus to the sale of Forest Collection products is that for every set sold a seedling is planted at special site.

"The forest division of Millar Western Industies Ltd. is co-operating with us on this project and will do the planting. A general concern for the environment and depletion of our forests is behind the idea," says Louw.

Millar Western is a private, family-owned forest company which harvests 2,500,000 trees each year.

But the company plants twice as many as that each year through an extensive reforestation program.