MARISA TAYLOR

Sivuqaq Yupik

My name is Marisa Ayngughaghhaq Kingikaq Taylor. I am a Sivuqaq Siberian Yupik artist, mother, and grandmother. Embracing traditional crafting has been a sacred part of my healing journey; a way to reconnect with the strength, wisdom, and resilience of my ancestors.
Raised in Savoonga by my grandparents, I learned to create by watching the hands of my great-aunt Angela Uwhaaya Larson and my aunt Elaine Ratiis Kingeekuk. The artistry I carry today was first sewn into our family by my great-grandmother, May Aghhaaya Kingeekuk, a master seamstress whose legacy continues through my hands.
I work with traditionally hunted materials to design contemporary Sivuqaq wearables that honor our heritage and celebrate the enduring spirit of our people. Akuzipik is my first language, and through every stitch and strand, I speak the story of my ancestors and the beauty of our homeland.

MARIA SHAA TLAA WILLIAMS

Tlingit

I am inspired by Tlingit form line design and the technique of applique. Using modern fabric and structured tailored designs, the designs incorporate references to ‘Raven’, ‘Killer whale’, and Sun and moon images. I love to design formal wear in addition to everyday wear and looks for professional work settings. My clothing label is Raven’s Shirt Studios.

MERNA LOMACK WHARTON

Yup’ik

Merna Lomack Wharton, a proud Yup’ik woman originally of Akiacuaq (Akiachak), currently lives in Anchorage, Alaska. She is an Alaska Native artist, poet, seamstress, and wood carver. Merna is happiest spending quality time at her family’s fish camp on the Kuskokwim River. She has two daughters and a grandson. Merna, whose Yugtun names are Nasektaq and Atanurluq, has passion for hand sewing, as Yup’ik women before her have traditionally sewn for family, as well as traditional subsistence activities and being in the great outdoors of Alaska! Merna received Rasmuson Foundation 2021 Fellowship and 2017 Project Awards in the category of Folk and Traditional Arts. She teaches tanning arctic ground squirrels and sewing. Merna has her traditional art work shown in various fashion shows and exhibits throughout Alaska including Homer, Nome and Anchorage.

CYRI THOMPSON

Qawalangin Tribe/Ounalashka

Cyri Pyetrovna Thompson is an Alaska-born Queer, Indigenous artist, currently residing in Unalaska/Dutch Harbor. They work full-time as a library assistant with the Unalaska Public Library, and mother of 2.

Their love of illustration began when Cyri first watched Sailor Moon at 9 years old, was later a member of the UCSD Art Club throughout high school, and travelled to NYC, England, and France; visiting museums, architectural & historical sites, Broadway shows, etc...

Cyri’s love of visual arts shows in a wide variety of mediums, though digital illustration & acrylics are their favourites. In the past few years, Cyri has built a following on social media with their art as well, with over 5k followers on TikTok & Instagram, combined.
Since working at the library, Cyri has undertaken art projects for programming & applied their experience with Graphic Design in creating “Book Menus” for the multiple sections of the library. It is Cyri’s dream to one day write & illustrate a children’s book that the library can proudly display, alongside the other Alaskan artists and authors works.

When not working at the library, Cyri spends her time working on other types of art; lately in the form of crochet. The piece that they designed for the Far North show is a Tunisian crochet shawl based on the design of Claire Fraser's shawl from the series Outlander, but in a traditional Unangan-inspired colour palette. It was designed to be worn as an accompanying piece to the Maiyuudaa gown by Hannah Atsaq & Garrett Iĝayux̂ of Tukuuludaa.

As a resident of Unalaska, and direct descendent of Chief Alexei Mironovich Yachmenev, the last great chief of the Aleut people, Cyri's ties to the island of her people run deep, and they are passing on the traditions of such to their two daughters, who regularly attend the annual Aleut culture camp and participate in subsistance activities with their grandmother, Rufina Shaishnikoff.

MARY KELSAY

Unangax from Chaluka Village

MEKA, based in Seattle, is a designer creating custom-made women’s wear inspired by her Unangax heritage and a commitment to slow fashion. Her clean, timeless designs promote sustainability while raising awareness about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit Relatives. Recent collaborations include the Tacoma Art Museum, Seattle Rep, and Copper Canoe Woman.

JACKIE QATALIÑA SCHAEFFER

Iñupiaq

Qataliña is Iñupiaq from Qikiqtaģruq. Raised amidst traditional Iñupiaq ways of living, art was a big part of her life. Nature inspired her to create and emerge as an artist and designer. She is eco-conscious and weaves traditional elements into modern fashion. Using re-design to honor past designers with vintage pieces indigenized with furs, seal and salmon skin, Qataliña hopes to inspire future generations to be aware, engaged and to work with Nature's way of being by honoring and protecting Her.

AMIAH JOHNSON

Tlingit/Koyukon Athabascan

Xóotsk' Amiah Johnson is a Tlingit and Koyukon Athabascan artist and birthworker from Yakutat with ties to Angoon and Galena. Taught by her grandmother Eva Olin Sensmeier and her mother Violet Sensmeier, she has been beading, sewing and creating for as long as she can remember. In her art, she is most inspired by the lands and waters that have sustained Alaska's Indigenous people since time immemorial, and uses both traditional and modern elements to create pieces that honor her ancestors art forms.

BOBBIE MESZAROS

Tlingit/Tahltan/Salish

GarnetAnn, Bobbie A Meszaros is Coast Salish (Old Man House)/Tahltan (Crow)/Tlingit from Shtax' Heen Kwaan the community of Wrangell, Alaska. She was raised under the aurora borealis and midnight sun in the ancestral lands of the Dena'ina in the towns of Fairbanks and Anchorage. Her work is heavily influenced by the cultural artwork of her traditional Pacific Northwest homelands and places of her youth in the North. The high desert of the Southwest also serves as a source of her inspiration. GarnetAnn currently resides in Juneau, Alaska.
GarnetAnn’s work often features a mixture of bright and bold colors to bring an energetic touch to her Northwest Coast weavings and beadwork. She is a practicing Salish, Ravenstail and Chilkat weaver mostly utilizing handspun and hand-dyed merino wools. As a fiber artist, she works with a variety of other materials including cottons and satin ribbons for dancing skirts. As an emerging fashion designer, GarnetAnn has been featured on several Alaska runways.
GarnetAnn has recently launched a ready-wear apparel line designed for everyone. Drawing inspiration from traditional artwork, wild fauna, landscapes and Alaskan culture to create a versatile mix-match lifestyle line. Her goal is to have looks that are more relatable, thoughtfully put together with a comfortable casual vibe that truly expresses “up north fashion”. Each piece is a foundation to build a unique capsule wardrobe ready for your favorite accessories. Her ready-wear line is available in a variety of cuts and shapes with inclusive sizing for all.
Bobbie is dedicated to promoting culturally based arts and crafts as an economic resource especially for women. She also advocates for the Wrangell Natives Without Land.

JEREMIAH JAMES

Tlingit

Jeremiah James grew up fishing and hunting in Yakutat Alaska 2011 started hunting Seals and Sea Otters and making products from their beautiful Fur. This is what it’s involved into now. He teaches classes for various native organizations around the state as only Alaska natives of 1/4 blood quantum can work with the marine mammals in the United States. Gunaal’cheesh.

TRINA LANDLORD

Yup’ik

For the third year, Trina Landlord has coordinated the Far North Fashion Show, presented by the Arctic Encounter. This year, the theme is, "The Water Collection" inspired by the element of water. Trina envisions designers creating by the inspiration of all versions of water from flowing oceans, streams, ice and more. She invited Alaska Native designers to imagine, innovate and invent garments based on their unique interpretation of water forms.

Alaska has a coastline of 6,640 miles and many of our Alaska Native communities are on lakes, rivers, oceans and coasts. Water surrounds us in rain, waves, frost, snow, ice and blizzards representing fluidity, adaptability and transformation. Our fashion show attendees will witness the transformation of the Anchorage Museum Atrium by the garments and designs, a curated music playlist of Inuit music from around the circumpolar Arctic and a celebration of Indigenous creativity and talent.

When Trina and her best friend, Tiffany Tutiakoff were 13 years old, they dreamt of Alaska Native designers and models sashaying down the runway featuring their elaborate traditional garments of sealskin, sea otter and ivory woven into contemporary wearable art. Through the Far North Fashion Show, Trina and Tiffany's dreams have come true, providing a platform for Indigenous creativity and talent.

Trina is Yup'ik, originally from the Yukon River community of Mountain Village and currently resides in Anchorage.