Artists Connect and Grow

Shirley Hootch grew up in Emmonak in a family of artists. Her grandfather Camille Hootch Sr. built boats, made drums, painted and carved decorative masks. Her aunties sewed and painted, and Hootch helped her uncle, who carved earrings, by sanding.

Hootch left Emmonak after high school and eventually moved to Hilo, Hawaii. About eight years ago, she felt like she was losing touch with her Yup’ik culture. A friend suggested that she make something for her mom, and so she carved wooden mask earrings. After others encouraged her to make more, Shirley Hootch Jewelry began.

Her collaborations began informally, about six years ago, with social media videos. “Women who had art for sale— there would be like 6 or 7 of us—I would throw my thing to their screen, and it would keep going to the next artist.”

It’s about getting to know people, connecting with different cultures, getting new ideas. I try to build other women up and help share their stories. It is fun and helps our businesses grow.

Shirley Hootch, owner of Shirley Hootch Jewelry

Just a few years ago, the collaborations became more formal, with Hootch making earrings with other Indigenous artists. “We have different materials and different creative abilities. I started carving cabs (cabochons) because a lot of people are beading those; I would rather make some noise with a bandsaw than bead.”

Hootch collaborates with Iñupiaq artists and Lower 48 Tribal members in addition to fellow Shareholders. When she goes to tradeshows, she tries to invite artists with a small following to share her booth.

Hootch says collaborating has been rewarding in many ways. “It’s about getting to know people, connecting with different cultures, getting new ideas. I try to build other women up and help share their stories. It is fun and helps our businesses grow.”

Brenda Pacarro, a Calista Shareholder originally from Aniak, began sewing qaspeqs during the COVID-19 pandemic and the hobby blossomed into her qaspeq business, Wear Culture.

She partners with a close friend who taught her how to sew in the proper way, and after COVID ended, they began sharing tables at arts and crafts shows in Anchorage and beyond. “We kind of fit well together, and it happened naturally,” she says.

We can be creative in maintaining our culture and being open to change while still honoring what we’ve been taught,

Brenda Pacarro, owner of Wear Culture

Pacarro also works to support other Indigenous artists. “I find other Indigenous artists and buy their fabric designs to put into qaspeqs, including Lower 48 Native American and Polynesian artists.”

Pacarro said collaborating with and supporting other artists aligns with the cultural values of the Yukon- Kuskokwim Region.

“Our culture is about sharing and taking care of each other. It’s about building community as well. We can be creative in maintaining our culture and being open to change while still honoring what we’ve been taught,” Pacarro says.

Nikki Corbett is well known for her qaspeq business, Sew Yup’ik, but her biggest collaboration of late has nothing to do with fabric.

Last year, the Calista Shareholder from Bethel achieved her dream of many years to publish a Yup’ik alphabet coloring book.

Raising her children in Soldotna, Corbett has no access to a Yup’ik immersion program. Creating the coloring book would be a boon for her children, but she couldn’t do it alone.

As Yup’iks, it’s about uplifting and empowering each other. That’s what I always strive to do.

Nikki Corbett, co-owner of Ciuneq

Corbett started applying for grants and created a business partnership with her friend, Katie O’Connor, an Iñupiaq illustrator from Nome, to create the alphabet book. They named their business Ciuneq, which means ‘what lies ahead’ in Yup’ik.

Corbett also collaborated on Yup’ik words and phrases for the coloring pages with her relatives who are Yup’ik language experts—including her aunt Marie Meade and cousin Christopher Liu—her former schoolteacher from Bethel, Yup’ik Elder Ayaprun Loddie Jones, and also Jenine Heakin.

“I love to be able to collaborate with others if I am not strong in that area. I love being able to empower other artists. I don’t look at them as competition. As Yup’iks, it’s about uplifting and empowering each other. That’s what I always strive to do.”

Following the publication of the alphabet book, Corbett and O’Connor continue to work together. “We’re developing flash cards, and we have the idea of doing an Iñupiaq coloring book as well. We want to keep making educational, cultural materials,” Corbett says.

She encourages collaborations as a way to keep learning. “In my sewing, I learn from every single class that I go to. We all have our different life experiences and can learn from each other.”