Community Sewing Programs for Moms a Big Success: an Arctic Inspiration Youth Prize Story
From December 2024 to May 2025, youth involved with One Plane Away delivered three community sewing programs in two Nunavut communities: Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet. The sewing programs were made possible by an Arctic Inspiration Youth Prize won in May 2024 and sponsored by One Plane Away. Each sewing program took place twice a week for seven to eight weeks. In the programs, moms learned to make winter clothing for their children (parkas, snowsuits, and/or wind pants).
Most moms had some sewing experience but had never made winter garments for their children before. At the end of the program, each mom got to take their sewing machine home with them, allowing them to continue sewing and providing for their families.
In Iqaluit, instructors Rorenda Kennedy and Annie Akoak taught four moms how to make their garments. The program was coordinated by local Arctic Inspiration Youth Prize winners and youth staff hired through their Youth Employment Program–also made possible by the same Arctic Inspiration Youth Prize funding.
In Rankin Inlet, Hilary Manik led two sewing programs with the support of co-sintructor Michelle Kaludjak. The instructors supported nine moms with completing their garments. Manik had organized a previous sewing program with One Plane Away in 2020. She generously shared her expertise and knowledge gained through organizing the 2020 program with all of those involved in the Arctic Inspiration Youth Prize programs. She was a huge part of their success.
The moms’ children attended all three programs, bringing joy and purpose to every session! Snacks for all and a playroom for the children were set up each night.
Iqaluit sewing program instrucutor Rorenda Kennedy shared the following message about her experience instructing the Iqaluit program alongside Annie Akoak (Inuktitut translation follows):
I am Rorenda Kennedy from Iqaluit, originally from Arviat where all the parka and amoutik sewing of mine started. I have been instructing with sewing classes ranging from ages 14+ including elders (some elders it is their first time and takes longer than the teenagers and middle aged groups). From beginning to end, image consulting, pattern making, alterations, garment fitting, then they get to keep the pattern drafting; from these kinds of programs they learn great skills, gain some knowledge, and value their time sewing much more in the near future of their own endeavours. My first instructing was with Tukisigiarvik. That led to Ilitaqsiniq and then One Plane Away. All of the above are such great experiences. One Plane Away had babysitters to look after their young ones which was easy for the young mothers learning to make their young ones fashion design. I have taught all of the participants step by step and they are fast learners when they listen. This includes learning to love their sewing machines!
My favourite part was... when one kid was running and jumping from excitement from owing his very own garment his mother made. So much pride & joy between the mother and son. Priceless. It made a huge impact and touched our hearts–of the instructor and also the team members. What a great experience and I hope all young mothers get to experience this feeling. Thank you One Plane Away for the opportunity you have given to these young mothers and the great benefits you have offered! It definitely made their lives much easier and they have continued to sew more creations at their homes. Along with a great appreciation and hats off to a great team and staff. Without them we wouldn’t have finished the cutest kids garments. Thank you.
Rorenda~mit
Thank you One Plane Away for the opportunity you have given to these young mothers and the great benefits you have offered! It definitely made their lives much easier and they have continued to sew more creations at their homes.
ᕈᕋᓐᑕ ᑲᓇᑎ−ᖑᔪᖓ ᐃᖃᓗᖕᒥᐅᖑᔪᖓ, ᐊᕐᕕᐊᕐᒥᐅᑕᒃᓴᔭᐅᔪᖅ ᔭᐸᓕᐅᕐᕕᒋᓚᐅᖅᑕᓐᓂ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐊᒪᐅᑎᒃᑯᑦ ᒥᖅᓱᕆᐊᕐᕕᒋᓚᐅᖅᑕᓐᓂ. ᐃᓕᓴᐃᖃᑦᑕᖅᓯᒪᕗᖓ ᒥᖅᓱᕆᐅᖅᓴᔪᓂᒃ 14+−ᓂᒃ ᐅᖓᑖᓂᓪᓗ ᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᒃ (ᐃᓚᖏᑦ ᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᑦᑎᐊᖑᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᐊᑯᓂᐅᓂᖅᓴᐅᓲᖑᓪᓗᑎᒡᓗ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ ᐃᓐᓇᕐᓂᒃ ᑲᑎᙵᔪᓂᒃ). ᐱᒋᐊᕐᓂᖓᓂ ᐃᓱᐊᓄᑦ, ᐊᔾᔨᙳᐊᓂᒃ ᐅᖃᖃᑎᖃᕐᓂᖅ, ᐋᖅᑭᒃᓱᐃᕙᓪᓕᐊᓂᖅ, ᐊᓯᔾᔨᖅᑎᕆᓂᖅ, ᐊᓐᓄᕋᔾᔨᐅᕐᓂᖅ, ᐱᓯᒪᐃᓐᓇᕈᓐᓇᖅᑎᖦᖢᒋᑦ ᑎᑎᕋᕆᐊᕐᖓᕐᓂᖅ; ᑕᒪᒃᑯᓇᙵᑦ ᐱᓕᕆᐊᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᑉᐸᑉᐳᑦ ᖃᐅᔾᔨᑎᑖᖅᑐᑎᒃ, ᖃᐅᔾᔨᑎᑖᖅᑐᑎᒃ, ᐊᒻᒪ ᐱᒻᒪᕆᐅᑎᑦᑎᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᒥᖅᓱᕐᓂᖅᓴᐅᓂᖏᓐᓂᑦ ᓯᕗᓂᔅᓴᖅᑎᓐᓂᑦ ᓇᒻᒥᓂᖅ ᐱᓇᓱᐊᖅᑕᖏᓐᓂᑦ. ᓯᕗᓪᓕᖅᐹᒥ ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖃᑎᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ ᑐᑭᓯᒋᐊᕐᕕᒃ, ᐃᓕᑕᖅᓯᓂᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᐅᑉ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᑉ ᐊᕙᓂ. ᑕᒪᕐᒥᒃ ᖁᓛᓃᑦᑐᑦ ᖃᐅᔨᑦᑎᐊᖅᓯᒪᔪᒻᒪᕆᐊᓘᕗᑦ. ᐊᑕᐅᓯᖅ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᖅ ᐸᐃᕆᔨᖃᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᑲᒪᓂᐊᖅᑐᓂᑦ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᖁᑎᒥᓂᑦ ᐊᔪᕐᓇᙱᑦᑐᑯᓘᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᓈᓇᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᕙᓪᓕᐊᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓴᓇᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᖁᑎᖏᑕ ᐊᓐᓄᕌᖏᓐᓂᒃ. ᐃᓕᓐᓂᐊᖅᑕᐃᓐᓇᕆᓯᒪᕙᒃᑲ ᐃᓚᐅᔪᓕᒫᑦ ᐊᓪᓗᖅᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᒃᑯᑦ ᓱᒃᑲᓕᓪᓗᑎᒡᓗ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᕙᓪᓕᐊᓪᓗᑎᒃ ᓈᓚᓕᕌᖓᒥᒃ, ᑕᒪᓐᓇ ᐃᓚᖃᖅᐳᖅ ᐃᓕᑦᑎᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᓇᒡᓕᒍᓱᖕᓂᕐᒥᒃ ᒥᖅᓲᑎᒋᕙᒃᑕᒥᓂᒃ!
ᐱᐅᒋᓂᖅᐹᕋ ᐅᓇ... ᑖᓐᓇ ᓄᑕᕋᖅ ᐅᓪᓚᒃᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᕿᒡᒋᖅᖢᓂᓗ ᐊᑮᑦᑐᒥᓂᒃ ᓇᖕᒥᓂᖅ ᐊᓐᓄᕋᔾᔨᐅᖅᖢᓂ ᐊᓈᓇᓂ ᓴᓇᔭᒥᓂᒃ. ᐅᐱᒍᓲᑎᖃᒻᒪᕆᒃᐳᖓ ᖁᕕᐊᓱᖃᑎᒌᒃᐳᒍᓪᓗ ᐊᓈᓇᐅᔪᖅ ᐃᕐᓂᖓᓗ. ᐊᑭᖃᙱᑦᑐᖅ. ᐊᑦᑐᐃᓂᖃᒻᒪᕆᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐊᑦᑐᖅᓯᓪᓗᓂ ᐆᒻᒪᑎᑦᑎᓐᓂᒃ ᐃᓕᓴᐃᔨᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓕᒌᓂᒃ. ᐊᒃᓱᐊᓗᒃ ᖁᕕᐊᓇᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ ᐅᕕᒃᑲᐅᓂᕐᓴᐅᔪᑦ ᐊᓈᓇᐅᔪᑦ ᑕᒪᒃᓱᒥᖓ ᐃᒃᐱᒍᓱᖁᓇᖅᐳᑦ. ᖁᔭᓐᓇᒦᒃ ᐊᑕᐅᓯᕐᒥᒃ ᖃᖓᑕᓲᒥᒃ ᐱᕕᒃᓴᖃᖅᑎᑦᑎᓯᒪᓂᕐᓄᑦ ᑖᒃᑯᓄᖓ ᒪᒃᑯᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᐊᓈᓇᒋᔭᐅᔪᓄᑦ ᐱᐅᔪᒻᒪᕆᐊᓗᖕᓄᓪᓗ ᐱᕚᓪᓕᕈᑕᐅᕙᒃᑐᓄᑦ ᒪᓂᒪᑎᓯᒪᔭᕐᓄᑦ! ᐃᓅᓯᕐᒥᓂᒃ ᐱᔭᕆᐊᑭᓪᓕᑎᑦᑎᕚᓪᓕᓚᐅᖅᑐᖅ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᒥᖅᓱᖏᓐᓇᖅᑐᑎᒃ ᐊᖏᕐᕋᖏᓐᓂ, ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖁᔭᓕᓂᖃᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖀᒥᒍᓱᑦᑐᑎᒃ ᐱᓕᕆᖃᑎᒌᑦᑎᐊᖅᑐᑎᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᖅᑲᓇᐃᔭᖅᑎᖃᑦᑐᑎᒃ. ᑕᐃᒃᑯᐊᖑᙱᑉᐸᑕ ᐱᔭᕇᕋᔭᓚᐅᙱᑦᑐᒍᑦ ᑭᔾᔭᖅᑐᐃᓗᑕ ᓱᕈᓯᕐᓂᒃ ᐊᓐᓄᕌᓂᒃ. ᓇᑯᕐᒦᒃ.
ᕿᑎᕐᒃᖠᓗᒃ
The team of youth volunteers behind the project wishes to thank the Arctic Inspiration Prize and One Plane Away for their support of both the community sewing programs and the Youth Employment Program. It also thanks all the team members in Iqaluit and Rankin Inlet who brought the sewing programs to life, including, in Iqaluit: Rorenda Kennedy, Annie Akoak, Alexis Vincent-Wolfe, Makayla Mike, Megan Hutchings, and Victoria Madsen.
In Rankin Inlet, the team thanks Hilary Manik, Michelle Kaludjak, Clarissa Ussak, Denise Kataluk, Frances Sanertanut, and Alaine Sateana-Tologanak. To read a story about the first Rankin Inlet sewing program, click here.
Qujannamiik to all these amazing team members and arnait (women) for their hard work and dedication to the programs!