Melaw Nakehk'o facts for kids

Melaw Nakehk'o is a talented actress, artist, and a traditional moose hide tanner. She is also one of the people who started the First Nations organization called Dene Nahjo. Melaw is best known for her role as Powaqa, an Arikara woman, in the 2015 movie The Revenant.

Early Life and Background

Melaw Nakehk'o is from the Dehcho and Denesuline branches of the Dene people. The Dene are a group of First Nations people who live in the northern parts of Canada. Melaw was born in Fort Simpson, a community located in the Northwest Territories, Canada.

Becoming an Actress

The Revenant was Melaw Nakehk'o's very first movie role. Her journey to becoming an actress is quite interesting!

How Melaw Got Her First Role

One Saturday morning, Melaw was at the grocery store with her two young sons. She kept getting messages from people telling her about an open casting call happening in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. Even the grocery store clerk encouraged her to try out!

Melaw decided to go, arriving just an hour before the casting call ended. For her audition, she had to make up a scene on the spot with other actors. The scene was about trading animal furs for a horse. This unique audition helped her get the part in the movie.

Working on The Revenant

Melaw shared in a radio interview that she was very impressed with the movie's director, Alejandro G. Iñárritu. She felt he really helped her show her acting skills as Powaqa. She also appreciated how the movie tried to show indigenous people in a respectful and accurate way.

Melaw has also spoken about how the difficult treatment of her character in the movie reflects serious issues that indigenous women still face today.

Fashion and Representation

When The Revenant had its big premiere in Hollywood, Melaw received a lot of attention for her dress. It was a special collaboration between Métis artist Christi Belcourt and the famous fashion house Valentino.

Melaw explained why this was so important to her. She said, "It was really important to be able to represent Indigenous designers at such a high level of fashion." She wanted to show that Indigenous designs are beautiful and important, especially because sometimes big fashion companies use Indigenous styles without proper respect.

Cultural Activities and Art

Beyond acting, Melaw Nakehk'o is a talented visual artist. She enjoys painting, sewing, and beading. She is also well-known as a traditional moose hide tanner. She works out of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

Teaching Traditional Skills

Melaw has shared her knowledge by teaching moose hide tanning. She has taught at the Dechinta Bush University Center for Research and Learning. In 2012, she received a special Minister's Cultural Award. This award recognized her for sharing the wisdom of her elders and for making moose hide tanning popular again.

Dene Nahjo Organization

Melaw is also a co-founder of Dene Nahjo. This organization works to support leadership and fairness for indigenous people in Canada's northern territories. They focus on social issues and protecting the environment.