Posted: Jan 30, 2021 7:00 AM CT | Last Updated: January 30
The Honouring Our Future exhibit will be in Whitehorse until April 30 and then travel across the territory until the fall of 2023. The dress on the left was worn by 2013 graduate Brittney Telep, from the Ta an Kwäch än Council and made by Ellenise and Dorothy Profeit. The regalia on the right was worn by Sarrah Telep of the Ta an Kwäch än Council, who graduated in 2019. It was made by Ellenise Profriet.(Danielle d Entremont/ CBC)
Rich colours, intricate beadwork, and creative designs.
That is just some of what encompasses the regalia Yukon First Nations high school graduates have been wearing for the past 45 years.
The 52 prints sold out in about four days, something he had not anticipated whatsoever. I was actually really surprised, it was actually kind of shocking … I didn t expect it to explode the way it did, he said.
Lepine said he assumed it would be a local fundraiser as all of the money is being raised to support local schools and organizations, but was amazed to see the support from across Canada. He also had many people reach out to him to thank him for bringing attention to such an important topic. For me it just was a lot of heartbreaking stories and heartbreaking awareness of how real this issue actually is … it was eye opening.