Kari Konchinew

Kari Konchinew is a Plains Cree artist and a proud member of Sweetgrass First Nation and currently resides in Saskatoon.

She works as an Assistant Manager at the Wanuskewin Gift Shop, where she is grateful to support and be surrounded by Indigenous art, culture, and history.

Her journey with sewing began at the age of five, when her mother taught her how to sew both by hand and on a machine. Since then, she has continued creating Indigenous crafts, developing her skills over time and learning new techniques that strengthen her connection to culture.

She holds a diploma in Animal Health Technology from Lakeland College and is working toward becoming a Registered Veterinary Technologist. In her spare time, she volunteers with organizations to address overpopulation of dogs and cats on First Nation reserves in Treaty 6 Territory, contributing to spay/neuter clinics and advocating for animal welfare.

She is honored to be facilitating this ribbon skirt workshop, where participants will create their own skirts while reflecting on the significance of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. The act of making becomes a space for learning, sharing, and connection, grounded in culture and tradition. This work is deeply important, as it brings awareness to the ongoing crisis affecting Indigenous families and communities across Canada, and acknowledges the lives of those who are missing and those who have been taken. Through this workshop, ribbon skirt making serves as a way to honor, remember, and stand in solidarity, while strengthening community and carrying forward the voices and stories that must never be forgotten.