Everyone has a past life. In previous lives Yukon’s small producers of craft, art, herbal medicines, organic and healthy foods were former international activists, policy wonks, financial whizzes, heavy equipment operators, expeditors, counsellors and teachers.
The products these people are creating in their new lives — the products that are usually only available once a week in the summer at the Fireweed Market– are now available for another week at the Yukon Made store.
The Yukon Made Store has been put together by the Fireweed Community Market Society, the Yukon Crafts Society and the Growers of Organic Food Yukon. Following on the success of their Christmas store, they have once again joined forces and set up shop in the Quawlin mall. This means that your favourite Yukon artists and producers are under one roof again, set up for comfortable indoor shopping.
Now of course I realize that some of the artists have been artists all of their adult lives, and that many of the farmers have been farming for a long time. Others of us though, are pulling ourselves out of some form of rat race (even though at times, we’ve have had to leave one leg in) to create a way of living that feels more in line with who we are and what we need to live. A form of life perhaps, steeped in our individual sense of personal integrity. But whatever the path, no matter how different, that brought us to market our Yukon made products — we all need the support of the Yukon community to keep doing what we love.
Come and see the new works of Rosemary Piper, Shiela Alexandrovich, Heidi Hehn, carvings of Beniot Landry and Andrew Finton mixed amongst the kiosks with candle-makers, knitters, jewelers, herbalists, potters, photographers and food. (There’s an amazing list, too long to mention everyone…)
Don’t forget. And yes, the food — the organic pickles and relishes, fireweed jellies and syrups, Over the Top Desert Sauces and of course BoldRush PowerFoods – protein drinks and bars.
So whether or not you just need a taste of the Yukon wild and its crafted products, or feel like Christmas shopping early, come and help contribute to the revitalized life of Yukon’s only mall for the short-time it has left.
And remember to pass on the location to any CWG visitors looking for things that are made in the Yukon.
The Yukon Made Store is open 9:30 to 6 Monday through Wednesday, and until 9 on Thursday and Friday, Saturday 9:30 to 6 and Sunday 12 to 5 until March 11. Only one week left !
It’s fantastic that the Yukon Made Store did so well for itself over Christmas and is still operating to this day. There’s a lot of buzz about the store around Whitehorse.