Lillian teaches Melanie how to tuft for the first time. (July 2007)

The Young Entrepreneurs program is built around a core group of young girls aged 6 to 12 who work closely with facilitators from the youth centre and the larger community to develop their handicraft and marketing skills.

The group meets every Thursday evening to learn how to make traditional and contemporary jewelry.  The workshops with the elders, in particular, provide opportunities for cultural learning and sharing, and thus help to strengthen and re-inforce northern Aboriginal beading traditions amongst participating youth.  The girls then get to market their goods in the community. 

These young business woman have been hard at work selling their proceeds during the SAMS Christmas Craft sale where the girls raised $240.  When asked what they would like to do with the proceeds, they decided that they would donate $100 to Turning Point, Inuvik's homeless shelter.  Since the craft sale, the girls organized a sale in time for Valentine's Day and more recently at the 50th Anniversary Muskrat Jamboree.  A number of lovely items are also currently on display at Moe's Stationary and Gift Store right here in Inuvik.  

The girls display their work at the SAMS craft sale (November 2006).