‘Every antler once belonged to a sacred animal’

Lydiah Rabesca’s daughter wanted to travel south with her best friend. The family needed money to make that happen. When her husband returned from a hunting trip with caribou antlers, she saw an opportunity.

Drawing inspiration from another northerner – Stacey Walker and her Northwest Wall Decor – Rabesca turned to her daughter and said: “Let’s try to make a few of these and see how it goes.”

Two years later, Rabesca has unlocked a passion and runs her own business, Gonàowoò Designs. She is the Land and Water Boards of the Mackenzie Valley artist of the month for July.

Rabesca, who lives in Yellowknife, is originally from the Tłı̨chǫ community of Behchokǫ̀. “In the Tłı̨chǫ custom way, I have to let everyone know who my parents are, Phoebe Rabesca and Archie Isermansky,” she said.

Her wall decor uses Bathurst caribou antlers accompanied by the likes of smoked caribou hide, shells, rabbit and beaver fur, wool and cotton yarn, and even the likes of crystal glass, pearl and glass beads.

“I realized it was more meaningful than I thought,” Rabesca said.

“When I was working with antlers, I noticed that two antlers were never the same. Every antler once belonged to a sacred animal, a creature people have honoured and respected since time immemorial.

“That knowledge alone shifted this creative work from crafting into something far more meaningful and powerful.”

She also came to understand something about herself.

“I do carry a deep passion for home design, for warmth, for comfort, creating spaces that feel alive with story and real intention,” she said.

“I realized I wanted to share Indigenous home designs in a way that feels authentic, rooted and loving.”

Rabesca admits to “many trials and errors” learning her craft over the past two years with her daughter by her side.

“We were playing with the length of it, we were playing with different colours, we were playing with different yarn, the thickness of it, the thinness of it, the quality of it,” she said.

“It slowly revealed itself as something much bigger than we had both imagined. It gave us an opportunity to bring more beautiful antler pieces into private sacred spaces and into people’s homes.”

The thrill of pouring her heart into a design and having someone select it for their home hasn’t worn off.

“When they purchase it, a part of me is just so happy. I love that it’s going into other homes, it’s going into sacred spaces, private spaces,” she said.

“I just want to thank Stacey Walker,” Rabesca concluded, “for paving that pathway for me.”

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The Land and Water Boards of the Mackenzie Valley have relaunched and expanded the Beading Series. The Indigenous Artists Showcase features an artist every other month. An artist will be selected based on the theme for that month (such as jewellery, clothing or accessories).

Artists who submit an image of their work will receive $25. The selected artist will receive $250.

Check out the boards’ Facebook page for information on when and how to submit your work.