My English name is Heather Douville, and my traditional name is Kootink. I belong to the Shank’weidi Wolf clan and take great pride in my Tlingit heritage. I have always cherished the stories of my great-grandmother, a skilled skin-sewer, and how my dad helped her tan seal skins when he was a child. Storytelling is a vital part of our culture, allowing our traditions to be passed down for over ten thousand years.

​

When I was eight years old, I began my journey into skin sewing after my parents had regalia made for me—a buckskin dress hand-sewn from deer leather that my dad harvested to feed our family. Inspired by this, I started sewing by creating a matching buckskin dress, headband, and belt for one of my Barbies, using scraps of leather from my regalia.

​

We respect the animals we hunt and strive to use as much of what we harvest as possible. The capes from the deer we harvest are preserved and transformed into leather, serving as a tangible reminder of our connection to the land and the food it provides. At twelve years old, I made my first pair of moccasins, which have impressively lasted 25 years.

​

I primarily sew with deer leather and sea otter fur, but I also incorporate wolf, seal, and other materials into my work. Sea otter fur is renowned for its extraordinary warmth and softness, boasting up to one million hairs per square inch—the densest and warmest fur of any mammal.

​

I am deeply grateful for my mentors, whose guidance allows me to practice my culture today. Every winter, my dad and I hunt sea otters and seals. In the spring, I flesh, salt, and dry the hides to prepare them for tanning. My dad has shared everything he knows with me, and my auntie played an essential role in teaching me moccasin-making. Her teachings inspired me to expand my skills to create hats, headbands, blankets, and more.

​

Skin sewing is a way for me to carry on the traditions of my ancestors, honor my great-grandmother, and preserve our rich culture. Through my work, I strive to bridge the past with the present and hope to pass on my knowledge to the next generation.