Retail Status in Northern Canada (NNSL.com)

Retail has never been super strong in the north, aside from the true staples of food and energy.   But this latest story tells of rather more serve stress on the retail side.  Can some northern business withstand another blow like 2007-08 when mining projects were put to the backburner?  The Mackenzie Gas Project has little likelihood of taking flight anytime soon.  Northern mining has not returned all the revenues everyone was maybe expecting.  The caribou are in a deep down cycle, guiding has been curtailed entirely.  During my last trip North of 60, the crafts retailers have started displaying and selling their wears in restaurants and coffee shops.  Kinda felt like the beach in Mexico without the heat and sand.

Moose Hair Tufting

Native crafts are often fabulous pieces of art and intricate workmanship, and treasured by tourists the world over.  Inuit art has a strong and loyal following.  I have a small collection of soapstone and bone carvings that my parents acquired over their years traveling the north.  Economic hardship is not necessarily new to many of these areas, but not any more pleasant or sustainable.

Dene craft store evicted from mall 
In a small lot on the lower level of Centre Square Mall, beside a closed down card shop, just below a shut down barber shop, and across from a long-abandoned clothing store, is a colourful little Northern crafts shop being forced out by the mall's management. 


Thandiwe VelaNorthern News Services


Published Friday, June 10, 2011

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - In a small lot on the lower level of Centre Square Mall, beside a closed down card shop, just below a shut down barber shop, and across from a long-abandoned clothing store, is a colourful little Northern crafts shop being forced out by the mall's management.

With businesses fleeing the mall and the downtown core left, right, and especially centre, and taking shoppers with them, Northern Arts and Crafts owner Pauline Williah is surprised a business that really wants to stay is being given the boot.

"The mall is practically dead most of the time," Williah said. "I thought I was doing good by bringing more customers."

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