The Qaliq is officially complete

Today is a special day in many ways. Many years ago, seems like long ago I was in labor, early induced labor to have our first born child. We didn’t know the sex of the child. We wanted a surprise baby girl or boy. My husband and I enjoyed an Italian lunch in down town Fairbanks Alaska. My regular appointment was in the afternoon. When we went in – they checked my blood pressure and they wheeled me to FMH immediately! I was in a day dream state and surprised with the ride over because they told me to sit down and no walking. My blood pressure was high and they were concerned. We didn’t call family or friends. My child whom I named after my aunt was born half passed midnight over 1 minute. Happy early birthday day. You are loved more than the length of the universe! 🌸

The beads were picked and sewn to the hood. The last tassels were sewn that completes my main project: qaliq.

Quyana Rasmuson Foundation!!! You made my dream come true and touched our lives beyond these threads can measure!

I will post a full picture of the parka soon. Quyana tailuci!

Author: Nasek'taq

Merna Wharton “Nasek’taq” is Yup'ik from Akiacuaq (Akiachak) lives in Anchorage Alaska. Merna is an Alaska Native artist, poet, traditional and contemporary seamstress, carver, gatherer of greens and berries, and loves the outdoors of Alaska! Merna enjoys finding art in natural elements and shares her experiences through her website, nasektaq.com. Merna crafts to preserve her culture and art and shares her worldview from a remote village Yup’ik girl’s perspective with a glimpse of life in Alaska in her writing and poems. More information about her art can be found at https://www.rasmuson.org/49writers/artist-profile/merna-wharton/.

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