INTERVIEW – NATASHA PETER + KASKA DENA DESIGNS

The Kaska or Kaska Dena are a First Nations people of the Athabaskan-speaking ethnolinguistic group living mainly in northern British Columbia and the southeastern Yukon in Canada. The Kaska language, originally spoken by the Kaska, is an Athabaskan language.

The fashion designer Natasha Peter is a single mother to a beautiful 4 year old baby girl who is proudly teaching her Dena ways. She is from Ross River, Yukon Canada and she is from Kaska First Nation.

‘’I am a member of the Wolf Clan, I was raised on Kaska Lands and kaska ways. My family history line is kaska, southern Tutchone, Tlingit, and Scottish a long line of strong people, my Dena name is Dena’sqwella. My Dena name came from my great grandmother Mary Charlie’s grandmother on her fathers side of the family.’’

Natasha had started Kaska Dena Designs as a hobby seven years ago while she had attended college to upgrade her skills to become a nurse. During this time of life, she was in a dark spot of her life, she didn’t know where she was going or what her purpose was in life. She was fighting addictions at the time, a year had passed by, then two years and little did she know, her creations and Dena skills were healing me. So, when she had realized this – she stuck it out and continued creating. Her sewing skills that were taught from her elders, who are no longer alive today, her grandparents who I cherish and admire are no longer alive.

‘’I’m here carrying on their legacy and passing onto the next generation and showing them how important it is to keep our Dena ways alive and most importantly my daughter, she can also pass onto her children. My designs are traditionally handmade that are luxurious modernized – contemporary clothing and jewelry.’’

MISSION STATEMENT

When I create, it comes from the place of honouring those that have taught me what I know to be true. The land heals us, nourishes us, inspires us; it is our home. To be inspired by the environment is to see the natural beauty it offers us and reflect its warmth, colours, and peace for us to appreciate once more. When I create, it comes from the heart. A place of calmness, creativity, and love for my culture. The strength and fighting spirit of my grandparents are what gives my work its unique beauty. As I sew, memories of those I love are stitched in every piece I make. When they wear the clothing I make, my customers feel the confidence, pride, and beauty my grandparents have taught. This is what makes my clothes so unique. When I create, it is not only about me. It is also about providing a legacy that appreciates, and protects the traditions that have defined me and my ancestors. In celebrating my culture, I can pass it down to future generations. When my customers wear my designs, they support me as an independent artist. This means providing for my daughter and myself. In being independent, I can do what I love!

THE INTERVIEW

Can you tell us about your journey into the world of fashion design? What initially sparked your interest in this field?

I grew up in a creative environment, my mom always sewed clothing and warm winter clothing for the kids, my dad did carvings, together they held workshops. While attending school, my kaska native language class had always made us kids sew mitts, hats, mukluks, moccasins.

My elders played a big part with teaching me how to sew properly. I had always loved creating things and living the traditional lifestyle- camping, hunting, harvesting and creating things. As I grew up, the last few years of my high school years at the age of 11 years old – I started drinking then overtime very heavily. 15 years of my life was wasted on addictions, I drank to forget problems, I drank to numb feelings and I drank to feel loved and other times I drank just because. I used to work in mining camp jobs for about 10 years of my life and all I did was work then drink, a huge long cycle. Then, one day i decided to leave work camp work – so i got up and quit- it was the scariest thing I’ve ever done as it was my source of income to live in- i left to live in the city and go back into schooling to get into nursing. while attending school, i had to figure out sources of income, then I had remembered what my grandmother Alice John told me, she said long time ago – your grandpa would leave me alone with the kids to go out to work hunting and sometimes it was tough and all i did was sew little things to make little money to help buy some food for the kids she said it worked the kids were happy.

Remembering this advice while attending school has saved me in many ways. I was in a dark spot in my life, struggling with my addictions, but I stuck through school for only a short time. During that time, i had started creating jewelry and small things to sell- little did I know a year and two years had passed by while creating and that time I had noticed that I wasn’t drinking as much I was and then I stuck through it because it was helping me as I was going back into kaska Dena roots and noticed that it was healing me. I started creating and challenging myself back in 2017 and currently as the owner of Kaska Dena Designs, as an entrepreneur I challenge myself in many ways in everything that I do – most times, it turns out and sometimes way better than expected. In 2018 my grandma Tootsie passed away and to this day – there is not a day that goes by without her in my mind.

The year she passed on was the year that I had put most of my energy into creating new pieces and clothing making. Then, suddenly I had transitioned into KASKA DENA DESIGNS selling Canada wide and parts of the United States. I had attended my first international fashion show last year of 2022 – I had gone out to NYC and Paris with 20 indigenous selected models from Canada. Basically what i know about creating fashion was brought down from my elders and mother while growing up and a lot was self taught. Creating my business was all self taught as well. Everyday, I am learning everyday I am learning to love and challenge myself. Consistency, discipline, and time is what keeps things moving forward.

How would you describe your design aesthetic and the overall vision behind your eponymous label?

Indigenous Kaska Luxurious handmade jewelry and clothing & apparel clothing. A mixture of contemporary and traditional designs.

Can you elaborate on the inspiration behind your last collection and the themes you wanted to convey?

My last newest collection I had brought to NYC this past sept 2023 – I had named it DenaSqwella (my Dena name that was given from my elders) it refers to hard workers. The inspiration to that collection was to celebrate my Dena name as i take pride in it. I never have when it was given to me at first until I started my business and saw what I can do and how I have challenged myself.

How do you approach the process of designing a collection? Can you walk us through your creative process from initial concept to final presentation?

I got my inspiration from my Dena ways, being outside- looking at nature, and watching people what they wear.

Sustainability and ethical practices are becoming increasingly important in the fashion industry. How do you incorporate these values into your design and production processes?

Wearing Kaska Dena Designs, is a way of showing support to our indigenous family, friends, nieces, nephews, and whole indigenous nations. It’s always a good way to show support to an indigenous owned business.

What role does collaboration play in your work? Have you collaborated with other designers or brands, and if so, how has that influenced your creative output?

I have not collaborated with any designers.

How does your background culture and environment influence your designs? Are there any specific elements of your roots that inspire you?

Returning to my culture roots after sometime has healed me from my addictions and it then turned into a business.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a fashion designer, and how have you overcome them?

Fashion was and always will be a competitive industry, the most challenging thing that I’m finding is doing my business in general as a business person. Running my business myself and having to learn and wear multiple hats.

What advice would you give to aspiring fashion designers who are just starting their careers?

Consistency, discipline, determination is key to all success. How badly do you want it? How open are you to learning new ways of running a business or on even creating something ? Are you ready to fail?

Looking ahead, what are your future plans and aspirations for your brand? Are there any exciting projects or collaborations on the horizon?

I want to sell Kaska Dena Designs globally.

I want to get better at creating.

I want workers, I want work space to create.

I want to attend more international fashion shows and learn more cultures and meet others.

I would love to collaborate with another designer and see where it goes.

February/March 2024 I will be attending Milan fashion week and will have the DenaSqwella collection showcased.