Life and loss had her spinning until a new business venture got her spinning something old but new to her… qiviut. The path to get there was winding. Tanis Akutuq Simpson is Inuvialuit from Sachs Harbour and Inuvik, Northwest Territories and after receiving her teaching degree in 2011, she first taught elementary school in Sachs Harbour, then in Yellowknife. When she moved to Edmonton, she worked as a nanny until her brother suggested they start a business together, Qiviut Inc. Fibre Mill. She now has the chance to educate about her culture so she hasn’t left teaching behind entirely, but she’s excited about this new line of work.   

In her business, Simpson and her brother buy muskox hides from hunters in the Arctic, remove the qiviut out of the hides and turn it into yarn. With that yarn, they make knitwear, touques, scarves, and neck warmers. When they sell their goods at fibre markets or craft shows, many of the people they meet don’t know anything about the Inuvialuit or the north. As part of their display, they have an ulu and other Northern art, sparking conversations about Northern life. 

Simpson’s brother inspired the business nearly two decades ago, when he saw the qiviut being put aside as part of the annual muskox harvest. Someone else was milling it just like she does now. In 2018, he bought an Alaskan fibre mill that was for sale and asked her to go into business with him to make yarn from the qiviut. She thought it was a great idea and in no time she was spinning yarn on these industrial machines from the 1940s and 50s. With no instructions for the machines, they found someone to teach them how to operate them. The idea came just at the right time, as she was off work after losing her mom and uncle. From there, she was invigorated by the excitement of the people she met at markets and learning about her culture. 

Qiviut is the undercoat of the muskox. It gets combed out of the hide after it is hunted for meat. Warmer than sheep’s wool, and softer than cashmere, it’s highly desirable. Qiviut is quite rare as a commodity and specific to the Arctic. Watching people feel how soft and warm it is and how much they love learning about her culture got Simpson even more excited about this new venture. Working with a traditional material that’s connected to the land has been a healing experience for her.  

Her advice for Indigenous students leaving their home communities to go to post-secondary is to be prepared. She recommends learning about their new community, the transportation, and the supports available from mental health, culture, and healthcare. Connecting with cultural groups to attend events and find community is something else she suggests. “Don't forget your goals and where you're from... The bright city lights are very enticing and the city life can take over,” she confides from experience. It can be easy to forget to stay grounded and to find safe spaces where you feel comfortable. Remembering who you are is key, too.  

During her life, Simpson faced many obstacles. In her twenties, she started partying and in her thirties, she became an alcoholic. When her relationship ended, her uncle and her mom passed away, she was drinking more. She’s been sober for three and a half years now, but alcohol used to be her coping mechanism. “You can be on the right path and life and everything can be going well. But it is very easy to get sucked into that lifestyle and have it take over and control every aspect of your life,” she shares.

Another obstacle she faced was her late-in-life diagnosis of ADHD. Struggling in school and never feeling like herself, she finally had an answer to what was going on with her for so long. She encourages youth to advocate for themselves even if it’s uncomfortable so they have the best chance for treatment and success. “Nobody needs to suffer in silence,” she urges. 

To maintain her mental wellness, Simpson speaks to a therapist on the phone. She’s found working with Indigenous therapists to be most helpful. Being self-aware of her feelings has been helpful, too, and learning when to walk away to manage her reactions. The burden of educating others can be heavy sometimes and taking a time out can help. Connecting with what she needs, whether that’s alone time or comfort foods has also been important, along with having people she can vent to and places she can connect back with her culture and even other Indigenous cultures. 

When she needs inspiration, Simpson looks to her family. She’s been learning about her ancestors, up to her maternal great grandfather and also about her culture. Helping people has been a big motivator for her and why she became a teacher. The experience of being brushed off by teachers made her want to make a difference and do better herself. 

“My own personal history does also inspire me to learn and to also teach others how to overcome things and just to persevere to keep going and never give up on your goals and dreams no matter how hard it seems,” she elaborates. 

In conclusion, Simpson says, “Just believe in yourself and believe in that your goals are possible and your dreams are possible… We come from such strong people, we made it through all of that stuff in the past, and we are still here today. There are so many of us that are thriving. We all want to support each other as well…. We're getting there, we are starting to make such a huge impact in the world. We are taking the land back, we're taking our culture back, we're doing so many things. We need the future generations to continue to do that.” She encourages youth to find what makes them happy, surround themselves with supportive people and reach for the stars.  

When life and loss had her spinning, Tanis Akutuq Simpson took on a new business venture and tried her hand at spinning something old but new to her. Qiviut became the fibre that connected her to her culture, her past, her community and a new way forward. From the classroom to craft shows, she’s still an educator through and through, the lessons are just different now. 

Thanks to Alison Tedford Seaweed for authoring this article.