Nellie Winters

Inuit Community of Makkovik, Labrador, Canada
NELLIE WINTERS
Mrs Nellie Winters was born in Okak Bay. She has
done craft work her entire life. In earlier years, she did a lot
of grasswork and embroidery with her Mother, and made
essential items for daily life, such as sealskin boots and
mitts. Over the years, some of Aunt Nellie’s other craft
work has included coats, caps, dresses, beading,
jewellery, carvings, wall hangings, purses, paintings, and a
lamp. She used to run a craft store at the back of her
house stocked with her own work, and also taught crafts
and life-skills in school. Aunt Nellie’s work has travelled
across Canada and internationally, and is featured in
books. Her work is housed in the Confederation Building
and has been commissioned by museums such as “The
Rooms,” both in St. John’s, Newfoundland. In 1972, she
was invited to demonstrate her work at the Montreal
Olympics. She recently made a silipak for every member
of Team Makkovik for the 2012 Labrador Winter Games.
Although skilled with any material, Aunt Nellie’s favourite
materials to work with are duffel and sealskin
For the International Society of Ethnobiology Congress in Bhutan, Aunt Nellie has made
sealskin brooches, mitts, and boot ornaments. The colourful brooches are made from remnant
sealskin pieces, which is a good way to use even small parts of the sealskin. The sealskin is
sewn to stroud with a layer of cardboard in between. The brooch’s centre is made from beads
or soft hide. The mitts are made from commander and moosehide. The boot ornaments are
replicas of life-size sealskin boots, and are made of sealskin and moosehide.