Sharing the Iñupiat art of making Mukluks | INDIE ALASKA

Mukluks are traditional boots worn by indigenous Arctic people around the world. Their successful design allows airflow, which prevents sweat from causing frostbite in extremely cold conditions. Mukluks (sometimes called moccasins) are very versatile though and can be worn to sneak up on seals while hunting, for traditional dances, and for formal occasions like weddings. The process of sewing mukluks has become less common in recent years, but Mary Lou Sours is working to change that and reconnect people to this cultural tradition. #indigenous #alaskanative #nativeart
Editor's Note: Mary Lou Sours passed away in December 2022.
Video and story by Valerie Kern
Winter footage by Joey Mendolia
Music from FirstCom Music
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Пікірлер: 73

  • @Blubberedbaldy
    @Blubberedbaldy3 жыл бұрын

    I’m Iñupiaq but I didn’t grow up with my culture, so, it’s nice to have these videos to learn more about myself and where my ancestors came from. I feel whole watching these videos. Thank you ❤️.

  • @indiealaska

    @indiealaska

    3 жыл бұрын

    This is such a beautiful comment! Thank you so much for sharing that message with us. That's our hope for this series and it feels good hearing that it helped you.

  • @JonnyDredd

    @JonnyDredd

    2 ай бұрын

    Back when the missionaries came to inflict their bullshit on indigenous cultures world wide, the beginning of the end

  • @amazighspirit92
    @amazighspirit92Ай бұрын

    I'm Algerian and I'm in love with Alaskan culture 😍 Gosh, I wish I'd have the chance to live there. Can't really explain my feelings 😭 Love and greetings from Algeria 🤗❤️🇩🇿

  • @indiealaska

    @indiealaska

    Ай бұрын

    Thank you for sharing the love all the way from Algeria!

  • @rikichapman8884
    @rikichapman88842 жыл бұрын

    Women's hands have held the world together with our sewing and handmade works of love.

  • @shantenafreeman8908
    @shantenafreeman89082 жыл бұрын

    Love, love, love, to you!!!! Thank you 😌 Blessings to all!!!

  • @bagotrixxx9379
    @bagotrixxx93792 ай бұрын

    Quyana! Thanks to modern technology I have the opportunity to learn about my culture and heritage. Over the years I’ve grown a vast appreciation in keeping the unwritten traditions alive. My mother and grandmother passed some time ago in Anchorage, so their experiences and stories went with them. I’m a descendant of the Oscar family from Bethel but know absolutely nothing about them sadly. I just hope that we can use todays tools to record everything we can before the opportunity slips us. ❤

  • @indiealaska

    @indiealaska

    Ай бұрын

    Thank you for sharing your story and for watching this video. Comments like yours keep us inspired to continue making content.

  • @OMGCantPickaName
    @OMGCantPickaName4 жыл бұрын

    The USA was never a country that I was interested in visiting but after watching a few videos on this channel, I decided to put Alaska in my list of places to visit in the future.

  • @indiealaska

    @indiealaska

    4 жыл бұрын

    We love this comment! So glad we've inspired you and we hope you can make it to Alaska someday soon."

  • @zetjet9901

    @zetjet9901

    4 жыл бұрын

    :)

  • @aishatate9037
    @aishatate90373 жыл бұрын

    Hi there my family lived in Greyline and sometime in Anvik off the Yukon River and watching your video made me feel at home because now I live in Florida

  • @percaelumvolo
    @percaelumvolo4 жыл бұрын

    How beautiful! I've never seen mukluks in the process of being made before.

  • @SindyJ37

    @SindyJ37

    3 жыл бұрын

    So cool

  • @fackeyutub-emael6545
    @fackeyutub-emael65457 ай бұрын

    I am a man and I know how valuable this skill is.

  • @TheSunAndTheMoonrising
    @TheSunAndTheMoonrising2 жыл бұрын

    Awesome My uncle taught me how to make arrowheads, arrows and bows. I am happy to see that you are keeping up with tradition

  • @indiealaska

    @indiealaska

    2 жыл бұрын

    We love hearing stories like yours about cultural revitalization. Thank you for sharing!

  • @kurzhaarguy
    @kurzhaarguy3 жыл бұрын

    What a beautiful way to preserve ancestry, Mary! Thank you.

  • @miko3895
    @miko3895 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you. Im down on the lower states. Been leather working and beadwork for 40+ years. Am now in love with an aluetian man. Am going to try and make some mukuks . So glad you are teaching. Gotta keep crafting alive. Praise and respect.

  • @gerardmartin8704
    @gerardmartin87044 жыл бұрын

    Great working with the skins

  • @bobertjones4754
    @bobertjones47542 жыл бұрын

    Was watching an episode of Life below zero and Lady mentioned making mukluks so I had to see what it was. Thanks for a very informative video and you make beautiful clothing.

  • @jeremystewart4896

    @jeremystewart4896

    Жыл бұрын

    Was it the original LBZ, or one of the spinoffs?

  • @bbarnhartpd
    @bbarnhartpd4 жыл бұрын

    They need to form a company and produce authentic mukluks to sale via a website. This is awesome

  • @indiealaska

    @indiealaska

    3 жыл бұрын

    Check out her facebook page here: facebook.com/CusomMaryDesigns/

  • @andytso7990
    @andytso79903 жыл бұрын

    Wow, they are very beautiful., Never be ashamed of your culture and traditions, almost like how we Navajo's make our moccasins. But they are nice.

  • @moonmagnolia7
    @moonmagnolia76 ай бұрын

    This makes me cry tears of joy! I SO thankful that you are keeping your cultural traditions alive and that you are sharing your knowledge! You are a true artist at heart! All the artists I know do that. I’m still learning myself but I definitely encourage others who wish they could paint, but don’t think they can, by sharing my story of going from not being able to even draw good stick figures to being able to paint. If I can do it, anyone can, assuming they have the passion and perseverance to learn. In my ignorance, I bought a couple of pairs of fake mukluks last month, not realizing they were fake. Now that I know how they’re really made, I’d love to have a real pair. I think they would not only help to keep my feet warm, I think they would help me feel/be more grounded since only the natural materials would be between my skin and the earth. I love to support artists and artisans by buying their handmade products that are made using natural fibers and natural materials. I imagine your grandmother is very proud of you for what you’re doing. ♥️

  • @charlesmartel1998
    @charlesmartel19984 жыл бұрын

    We need too go back to simple life like this thats beautiful ( from quebec,canada)

  • @eliel3505
    @eliel35052 жыл бұрын

    I don't have any eskimo/inuit relations but do hope to try and learn how to make the clothing and learn the methods and culture, in case I end up in such cold environments, I also can teach any children I have these skills, I think cultures in their regions tend to know whats best in working and adapting to such regions

  • @itzakpoelzig330
    @itzakpoelzig330 Жыл бұрын

    I love seeing people bringing back the traditional ways.

  • @indiealaska

    @indiealaska

    Жыл бұрын

    We do too! It's a beautiful switch from how Indigenous ways were viewed for so long.

  • @mikeb2546
    @mikeb25464 жыл бұрын

    You do gorgeous work.

  • @dsaculinary2510
    @dsaculinary25103 жыл бұрын

    Greetings. Thanks for the educational videos. I really appreciate this work of Art & Craftsmanship.You just remind of My Mother. She retired this year in October from being "Professional Seamistress Teacher" for over 40 years. Art & Craft is SOUL Intuitive Tasks, only ONE can describe what's the nature of this tasks. So my mother live in the opposite side of the globe from You. On a tropical Island east of Madagascar. Lovings & BLESSINGS. Wish YOU All happy Holidays 💖 & BLESS New Year 2021.

  • @destyne.dispute714
    @destyne.dispute7143 жыл бұрын

    beautiful video, never let the knowledge disspaear!

  • @paulmckenna9492
    @paulmckenna94924 жыл бұрын

    Amazing !

  • @blackcitroenlove
    @blackcitroenlove4 жыл бұрын

    I could use a good warm pair, especially for my injured foot. I'll send an order in a few. I'm Southeastern Native, so good cold weather footwear that can accommodate the brace I wear, and is Native made, is hard to find in my own culture.

  • @bulldawg6259
    @bulldawg62593 жыл бұрын

    Thank you

  • @bonecc4061
    @bonecc40612 жыл бұрын

    Could that keep you more warm then like a Columbia coat? Cause I mean that is how it used to be done for hundreds or thousands of years and how coat manufactures don’t even use leather at all anymore

  • @dolphin5877
    @dolphin58774 жыл бұрын

    I used to live up north when I was young, and I learned how to make them, after I moved I forgot what they were even called. Tbh I miss the learning opportunities I had, and I'm gonna move back someday. Yours are beautiful :0

  • @dolphin5877

    @dolphin5877

    4 жыл бұрын

    I'm Canadian btw

  • @indiealaska

    @indiealaska

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for sharing your experience!

  • @floaton3

    @floaton3

    4 жыл бұрын

    The boot is called a kamik

  • @Jipper1984
    @Jipper19849 ай бұрын

    Stellar. Great story:)

  • @indiealaska

    @indiealaska

    9 ай бұрын

    Thank you for watching! Please subscribe to the channel so you will be notified when new episodes post. Thanks!

  • @farlyjmonez964
    @farlyjmonez9644 жыл бұрын

    my kind of woman, so gorgeous'😍

  • @JenTheulen84
    @JenTheulen84 Жыл бұрын

    So beautiful. ❤

  • @malamalu11
    @malamalu11 Жыл бұрын

    I really wanna make my own. I grew up semi traditional. Like she said, traditions got lost and sadly most of what I know is what family chose to do. I want to get back to my roots

  • @theofficialbaldkid2084
    @theofficialbaldkid20844 жыл бұрын

    Hello I saw one of your workers in my library class

  • @jaimereinersv474
    @jaimereinersv47411 ай бұрын

    Many times we admire the sculptures of miguel angel or the symphonies of mozat, but this is living and actual art, thank you for showing it to us.

  • @indiealaska

    @indiealaska

    9 ай бұрын

    Beautifully said. Thank you for sharing your words and for watching this video. We hope you subscribed so you will be notified when new episodes post!

  • @georgeholmes1490
    @georgeholmes14904 жыл бұрын

    I thank God for bumping into this thingy. These Mukluks sound cool, thank you! Is it possible to wear these in water, both fresh n salt? If one needs to wear them in -40f, is that they buy a bigger pair , so that its possible to slip the feet first into a thin wool sock and then into a warm thick wool sock and then slip the feet into the Mukluuks, right? Hopefully this will cover -40f and help folk that have normally colder feet? God bless.

  • @gedeonleister2439
    @gedeonleister24392 жыл бұрын

    I am in the Midwest. So don't need anything that warm. I am using rabbit fur and zuni boot pattern. Using what I got.

  • @CanyonReich
    @CanyonReich2 ай бұрын

    miss u sm mom😣

  • @haleysharp1247
    @haleysharp1247 Жыл бұрын

    This s neat.

  • @geslinam9703
    @geslinam97036 ай бұрын

    When Uggs became too popular and everyone started wearing them, I started buying Manitobah Mukluks, which I believe is a Canadian brand that is native owned. Their boots are so cute…but like everything else, seems they are made in China.

  • @livingalaskanative3301
    @livingalaskanative33013 ай бұрын

    RIP Mary 😢

  • @indiealaska

    @indiealaska

    3 ай бұрын

    She is so very missed. Thank you for your kind words.

  • @stevehicks9374
    @stevehicks93742 жыл бұрын

    How do you order a pair! These are absolutely beautiful

  • @samfit808
    @samfit8082 жыл бұрын

    Is this in Utqiagvik?

  • @indiealaska

    @indiealaska

    2 жыл бұрын

    Not quite so far north! This is in Noatak, about 60 miles above the Arctic Circle. Close to Kotzebue.

  • @trinegan5933
    @trinegan59333 жыл бұрын

    DO you make Children's Muk Luks custom order?

  • @eetate81
    @eetate813 жыл бұрын

    Where can I get som custom order info?

  • @indiealaska

    @indiealaska

    3 жыл бұрын

    Check out her facebook page here: facebook.com/CusomMaryDesigns/

  • @d-elmore
    @d-elmore Жыл бұрын

    what book was she reading? looking at her grandmother's mukluks

  • @skunkworks2059
    @skunkworks20592 жыл бұрын

    Is it possible to order a pair?

  • @davidkeitel5967
    @davidkeitel59673 жыл бұрын

    The Japanese also use the word “muk “ for skin.

  • @indiealaska

    @indiealaska

    3 жыл бұрын

    Fun fact!

  • @ginaridinadavilapinchi118
    @ginaridinadavilapinchi1184 жыл бұрын

    Mucho frioo

  • @twanablevins
    @twanablevins2 жыл бұрын

    Do you eat the seal meat?

  • @floaton3
    @floaton34 жыл бұрын

    Can this channel fix the title of this video? Mukluk isn't a boot, it's a bearded seal

  • @seancook4317
    @seancook43176 ай бұрын

    if it was anything like how canada did their natives, killed thousands of their children and buried them under the schools it's no wonder people stopped learning their culture

  • @yuchubeluvstabanmeh7213
    @yuchubeluvstabanmeh72133 жыл бұрын

    Alaska should seek independence already, Americans and Alaskans are nothing alike.

  • @Pemon
    @Pemon4 жыл бұрын

    hope they respecting yu'r traditional culture out there ... it looks worst in the rest of the u.s.