Melaw Nakehk'o facts for kids

Melaw Nakehk'o is a talented actress, artist, and a traditional moose hide tanner. She also helped start an organization called Dene Nahjo, which supports First Nations people in Canada. Many people know her from the 2015 movie The Revenant, where she played a character named Powaqa.

Melaw Nakehk'o's Journey

Early Life and Heritage

Melaw Nakehk'o belongs to the Dehcho and Denesuline Dene people. She was born in a place called Fort Simpson, which is in the Northwest Territories of Canada.

Becoming an Actress

The Revenant was Melaw Nakehk'o's very first movie role. It's a cool story how she got the part!

One Saturday morning, she was at the grocery store with her two young sons. There was an open casting call happening in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Many people kept texting her, telling her she should try out. Even the grocery store clerk encouraged her!

So, Melaw decided to go. She arrived just an hour before the casting call ended. For her audition, she didn't have to read lines. Instead, she had to act out a scene with other people about trading furs for a horse. She said it was all about her presence and being strong.

Melaw Nakehk'o was very impressed with the movie's director, Alejandro G. Iñárritu. She felt he helped her show her acting skills as Powaqa, an Arikara woman in the film. She also liked how the movie showed Indigenous peoples accurately. Melaw has shared that the way her character was treated in the movie reflects the serious issue of violence against Indigenous women that still happens today.

Representing Indigenous Culture in Hollywood

When the movie premiered in Hollywood, Melaw Nakehk'o wore a special dress. This dress was a team effort between Metis artist Christi Belcourt and the fashion house Valentino.

Melaw said it was very important to show off Indigenous designers at such a big fashion event. She explained that sometimes large fashion companies use Indigenous designs without permission or respect. She wanted to show how beautiful and important Indigenous fashion is.

Cultural Activities and Art

Melaw Nakehk'o is also a talented visual artist. She enjoys painting, sewing, and beading. She is well-known for her traditional moose hide tanning skills, which she practices in Yellowknife.

She has even taught others how to tan moose hide at the Dechinta Bush University Center for Research and Learning. In 2012, she received a special award called the Minister's Cultural Award. This award recognized her for sharing the knowledge of her elders and for making moose hide tanning popular again.

Melaw is also a co-founder of Dene Nahjo. This organization helps promote leadership and works for social and environmental justice for Indigenous people in Canada's northern territories.