People’s Choice Award Winner
2023 Tłı̨chǫ Holiday Showcase & Art Sale
The 2nd Annual Tłı̨chǫ Holiday Showcase & Art Sale was held on November 18th, 2023 at the Explorer Hotel in Yellowknife. Twenty Tłı̨chǫ artists came together from all four Tłı̨chǫ communities and Yellowknife to put on an amazing showcase of arts and crafts, delighting close to 1200 holiday shoppers who came looking for Christmas gifts.
Addressing the artists, the night before the show opened to the public, Grand Chief Jackson Lafferty spoke about the important role the Tłı̨chǫ Holiday Showcase & Art Sale plays in building self-sufficiency and pride in Tłı̨chǫ culture. The showcase has more than doubled in size in terms of artist participation since its inception in the previous year.
Shoppers were invited to vote for the artist they would like to see the Tłı̨chǫ Government showcase as the Tłı̨chǫ Online Store Feature Artist in 2024. Close to 450 shoppers cast their vote in the ballot for the “Peoples’ Choice Award”. James Wedzin received the most votes and the Tłı̨chǫ Government is now working with James to put in place an agreement to feature his art in a merchandise collection to be sold in 2024 through the Tłı̨chǫ Online Store.
The Tłı̨chǫ Government thanks all of the participating artists for the contribution they made to such a successful marketing initiative and congratulates James Wedzin on being selected by shoppers as the People’s Choice winner.