Expanding the Work of Sew Yup'ik: Contract Services Now Available

Jun 15

Since 2015, Sew Yup'ik (wiinga) has traveled throughout Alaska sharing traditional sewing knowledge, cultural teachings, and hands-on learning opportunities with communities of all ages. What began as a passion for preserving and sharing Yup'ik sewing traditions has grown into something much larger, a platform for cultural education, community connection, healing, and empowerment.

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work with tribal organizations, schools, universities, cultural centers, museums, nonprofits, youth programs, and community groups across Alaska. Through these experiences, I have come to realize that many organizations are looking for more than a workshop instructor. They are seeking support in developing programs, engaging youth, preserving culture, and creating meaningful learning experiences rooted in Indigenous knowledge.

Because of this, I am excited to announce that Sew Yup'ik is now offering contract services.

What Are Contract Services?

Contract services allow organizations to work with Sew Yup'ik on projects that go beyond a single workshop. Whether you are developing a culture camp, planning a conference, creating educational materials, or looking for a speaker for your event, I can work with you to create a customized experience that meets the needs of your community.

Traditional Sewing Instruction

Traditional sewing remains at the heart of Sew Yup'ik.

Available workshops include:

Traditional Qaspeq Making
Modern Qaspeq Making
Vest Qaspeq Workshops
Nasqurrun (Traditional Headdress) Workshops
Fish Skin Sewing
Sealskin Crossbody Bags
Beading Workshops
Beginner Sewing Classes
Youth Sewing Programs

These workshops can be customized for beginners, experienced sewers, youth groups, elders, conferences, and cultural events.

Cultural Program Development

Many organizations have ideas for cultural programming but need assistance turning those ideas into reality.

Sew Yup'ik can assist with:

Culture Camp Planning
Youth Engagement Programs
Traditional Arts Programming
Sewing Program Development
Community-Based Cultural Activities
Event Planning and Cultural Demonstrations

The goal is to create sustainable programs that strengthen cultural knowledge and community connections.

Curriculum Development

Organizations often request educational materials that can continue to be used long after a workshop ends.

Services may include:

Workshop Guides
Instructor Resources
Sewing Curriculum
Cultural Education Materials
Supply Lists and Program Planning Documents

These resources can be tailored for schools, tribal organizations, museums, and community programs.

Speaking and Presentations

I am available to speak at conferences, schools, community events, and organizational gatherings.

Presentation topics may include:

The Story of Sew Yup'ik
Traditional Sewing and Cultural Preservation
Indigenous Entrepreneurship
Sewing as Healing
Cultural Identity and Resilience
Youth Empowerment Through Culture
Revitalizing Traditional Knowledge

Each presentation is tailored to the audience and organization.

Cultural Content Creation

As the creator behind Sew Yup'ik, I have built an audience through storytelling, education, and cultural content.

Organizations may contract Sew Yup'ik for:

Educational Videos
Cultural Storytelling Projects
Social Media Campaigns
Tourism and Cultural Promotion
Community Awareness Initiatives
Digital Educational Content

Consulting Services

Organizations developing Indigenous-focused programming often seek guidance to ensure projects are culturally meaningful and community-centered.

Consulting services may include:

Cultural Program Planning
Community Engagement Strategies
Youth Program Development
Traditional Arts Program Design
Cultural Event Consultation

Why This Work Matters

Culture is not something that belongs only in museums or history books. It lives through practice, teaching, relationships, and community. Every workshop taught, every qaspeq sewn, every young person who learns a traditional skill helps ensure that our knowledge continues into the next generation.

My goal has always been simple: to share what was shared with me and create opportunities for others to connect with culture through hands-on learning.

Whether your organization is looking for a workshop instructor, speaker, consultant, or program partner, I would be honored to work with you.

Interested in Working Together?

If your organization would like to discuss a workshop, speaking engagement, cultural program, or contract opportunity, please reach out.

Quyana for supporting the continued sharing of Indigenous knowledge, traditional arts, and cultural education.

Nikki Corbett
Sew Yup'ik
Email: sewyupik@gmail.com
Website: www.sewyupik.org

Sew Yup'ik

My name is Nicolette Corbett, but many know me as Nikki of Sew Yup’ik. I’m a Yup’ik artist, teacher, mother, and advocate from Bethel, Alaska, now living on the Kenai Peninsula. My work is grounded in ancestral knowledge by my three grandmothers, each of whom inspired me with their creativity, resilience, and love for our culture.

For over a decade, I’ve been traveling across Alaska teaching traditional Yup’ik sewing arts—especially qaspeq making and nasqurrun (headdress) sewing—as a way to reconnect our people to our roots and begin the process of generational healing. Each stitch is a form of resistance, a celebration, and a reclaiming of our cultural identity.

Through Sew Yup’ik, I offer workshops, tutorials, and handmade items rooted in Yup’ik tradition, with the intention to uplift, heal, and empower Indigenous communities. I believe that culture is medicine—and that by reviving our traditional practices, we help restore our wellbeing, identity, and belonging.

Quyana for being here. Whether you're joining a workshop, purchasing a handmade piece, or simply exploring—welcome to Sew Yup’ik.

https://www.sewyupik.com