Tom, Gertie (1927 - )

Gertie Tom was born at Big Salmon in the Yukon. She was brought up in the bush in a family of nine children. The family lifestyle was dependent on food sources and included summers at fish camp where they caught and dried fish. Hunting season was accompanied by smoking and drying of meat, a role traditionally held by women. Gertie was taught how to sew by her mother. During winter the women would make moccasins or other pieces of clothing. In the spring, the family would travel to Carmacks or Whitehorse to sell the furs and get supplies. In 1948, the family moved to Whitehorse. Gertie married and became a community health worker. In 1977 she began working with Yukon Native Languages, part of the Department of Education, Yukon Government. She taught others to speak her Northern Tutchone language and learned to read and write. She wrote several books including My Country and How to Tan Hides. Gertie’s interest in traditional garments and functional objects began with her mother describing items used by aunts, uncles, grandmothers and grandfathers and by actually seeing the articles in use. She saw that many of these articles were no longer being made, often due to the convenience of purchasing ready-made articles in the stores. Not wanting the skills needed to create these objects lost to her people, she began to preserve the skills through her books as well as production of traditional items. The Yukon Permanent Art Collection is home to Gertie's work including "Firebag" and "Dog Packs". In 1986 Tom received a native language instructor certificate from Yukon College, signifying her successful completion of the three-year training course. Although she officially retired in 1992, she continues to take an active interest in the work of YNLC, attending literacy sessions and last year recording the latest version of the Northern Tutchone language lessons on-line.