Fur Fest

A first in Whitehorse.  This Fur Fest was held to showcase local trappers who brought their winter crop to sell to the public.  Most furs were untanned but a few were tanned.  Brooke was on a mission as her mother requested some fur to work with her leather crafts.

I have complained about how cold this winter has been.  For me that is not good.  For the trappers it is excellent as the fur is thicker and (for us) more luxurious.  Above, Emerson is looking at lynx.

There were pelts of all kinds, beaver, wolf, wolverine, mink, ermine ... you name it.

The crafts were beyond superb.  I have NEVER seen such variety and quality as was displayed at this fur fair.  Saw Jean Legare there and he told us that the fur balls on the Team Yukon toques are wolf. There was a culling of wolves and trappers not only got paid for the pelt from the government but the pelts were used to make the decorative balls or pompoms on the top of the Arctic Winter Games Team Yukon toques.

Brooke found a hat that would keep her warm at -60!  The cost was a bit prohibitive though at $850.

And while I went off to make a small purchase, the kids learnt about live traps for lynx from a Yukon biologist.  When I returned they were asking excellent questions and discovered why there were live traps, how tagging worked, what interested the animals in the traps etc.  

It was a great fair and if you are in the market for new moccasins, hats, gloves, pelts etc., put your order in with me.  This fair is scheduled to run every other year in the Capital.