About
At the heart of Dickson Designs is Designer and Owner
Heather Dickson
born and raised in the Yukon, Tlingit from the Carcross Tagish First Nation and Nuxalk Nation from Bella Coola, BC. Ms.Dickson received her diploma in Fashion Design at the International Arts Institute of Vancouver in 2010. However her training began many years earlier as she has been watching and learning the intricate art of beading since she was a child. Surrounded by rich first nation culture her whole life she was always eager to learn traditional sewing and is inspired by women from all over the north resulting in teachings from the top of the Yukon to the bottom.
Ms.Dickson has found a beautiful balance between her traditional skills and her artisan skills and takes great pride in combining them within her business. This artistic balance provides her with a strong connection to her first nation heritage and keeps her rooted to her cultural identity in a modern world. The result is an aboriginal product that is respectful and inspired.
Ms.Dickson is outgoing and enjoys meeting new people. She especially enjoys giving back to her community while promoting her culture and inspiring other to embrace it in todays world. She also enjoys putting on workshops and passing down her knowledge to the next generation.
Awards
Lawrence Pootlass Potlatch August 2015
I was recently recognized by my Great Grandmothers people, the Nuxalk Nation. I was gifted a mountain goat mask from our chief to honour the work I am doing. It was such an amazing feeling to get recognition and see the support from my grandmother`s people in Bella Coola, BC. A very high honour and one I`ll always cherish.
Adaka Cultual festival June 2015
Best up and Coming Visual Artist award! This was my first art festival and it was truly amazing to meet all the awesome artists from all over and learning some new techniques and listening to them share their experience through advice. I was very happy and surprised to win this award in my home town!
Big Idea Award of Excellence for Best Pitch May 2015
Yukon Upstarts Entrepreneurship conference held in Whitehorse was an amazing experience and the push I needed to take my headbands seriously. I competed in a Dragons Den styled Pitch competition for three rounds and won! This felt like conformation from the business world that I had a great idea, the next day I started to take the steps in becoming a registered business!