Sewing Class with Marie Thompson

Akwesasne’s recent snow and ice did not stop locals from gathering together to learn how to sew traditional and contemporary Iroquois regalia from Marie Thompson.  Marie recently retired her ten-year business plan as a local seamstress and now she enjoys teaching others how to sew their own ribbon dresses, shirts, yokes, and other accessories. 

The Ronathahon:ni Cultural Centre hosts classes at their location and other locations in Akwesasne including the Tri-District Elder’s Lodge on Cornwall Island.  Marie Thompson has been teaching a sewing class since Monday January 9th and it will end on Wednesday January 25th 2012.  More details can be found online at Ronathahonni.com and in the events section of Indian Time newspaper. 

An entire clothing rack full of the most popular styles of contemporary and traditional Iroquois regalia is available for students to look at for inspiration.  Students are able to pick and choose the styles they want to learn and Marie walks them through the process starting with taking body measurements, to pattern making, customizing, cutting, sewing, and finishing with interlocking. Marie also teaches insider tricks to help students place and sew ribbons on the clothing.  Students’ age, gender, and experience vary.  The motivation for each student learning to sew his or her own regalia is also diverse. 

Iawentas and Tekonwakwenni are both sewing ribbon dresses for themselves for the upcoming MidWinter ceremonies.  Both young ladies are experienced with sewing their own outfits and they attend the classes because it’s fun to sew with a group of local friends with common interests. 

Margaret George is learning how to use the sewing machine and interlocking machine with help from teacher Marie Thompson.  She is adding an intricate raised beadwork design that includes flowers and green leaves to the front of her yoke. 

Margie Thompson has made a lot of progress during the class.   She made a ribbon dress during the first week of class, then a yoke, belt, and skirt.  The detailed ribbon work is inspiring her fellow students.

 Mona Thompson is making a Jingle dress with all the accessories for her great niece Cameron.  The elaborate details including the metal cones that make the jingle sound are gorgeous.

Rachel joined the class in the second week and she is just starting her ribbon dress.  She decided to join the class because her usual Zumba class was cancelled because of the cold weather.

Vanessa heard about the class on CKON radio station and decided it was a good time to learn how to sew a ribbon shirt for her son and a ribbon dress for herself.  She chose a blue fabric with shiny white ribbons that is motivating her to make another outfit as soon as she completes her first one.

Arlene is making a ribbon dress for herself.  Lucas kept her company while she worked on a ribbon skirt.  She reminisced about an ugly shirt she made in home economics class at high school.  It was so ugly because one sleeve was fatter and lopsided and the buttons did not even work.  Arlene finds the class with Marie Thompson is fun and very helpful.  Check out the ribbon dress Arlene made and you may never know that she once made what sounds like it could have been the world’s ugliest shirt.

Nola Benedict is making a ribbon dress with skirt and leggings for herself and a ribbon shirt with pants and breach cloth for her husband in similar colors.  She planned a professional photo shoot where they will be wearing the Iroquois Regalia she is making during class.  Nola has sewn before but she never made a traditional outfit.  She hopes to get into other local classes that also teach how to make moccasins and anything that is relevant to Iroquois culture and history.

Maureen and her daughter Karhiiosta are learning to make their own traditional outfits.  Karhiiosta attended because her mother asked her and she wants to learn how to sew.  Her mother, Maureen is learning to make her first ribbon dress because she wants to wear it to Rome during the Kateri Tekakwitha Canonization.  She went to Rome when Kateri Tekakwitha was beatified and is looking forward to another trip.

Students gathered with the teacher for a photograph after class.