by Denbigh Perry May 8, 2020

My birch bark cap was made in respect to my Malimiut and Upper Athabaskan ancestry by the Nationally renowned late artist, Riba Dewilde. Her work can be found in museums nationwide. Her people are Athabascan. She hunted bears, mountain sheep, moose, like many of my female matriarch relatives. She said, “You have to move and create within our culture. Our tradition is survival. Creation from our materials is a gift.” 

The materials:

Birch bark in the traditional direction of display from Malimiut people. 

Sheep hide to close odd edges, and sinew from sheep. Spruce root binding for the edging on top. Spruce branch. 

Ivory button, baleen, and ancient trading bead from 1400-1500 AD. Porcupine quills on the eagle feather, and bleached hide for the tassel connection and multi use accessory. 

Respecting the eagle feather was the last one my late mother Teresa Sockpealuk Perry found and gifted me before she passed on.

Scrimshaw was done by her son.  

– Denbigh Perry