Yellowknife — September 21, 2026
The Hide and Fur Program will take a step forward this week as it fully transitions all sales of its hide and fur materials to local distributors. While the program’s hide and fur materials have been available throughout the territory through local distributors for many years, the growth and capacity of small, local businesses, especially in Yellowknife, means there are many viable options for artists to purchase directly from local distributors.
This change to the Hide and Fur Program will bring more consistency, access and flexibility to artists in the Northwest Territories, while encouraging support of local businesses. Due to the increased capacity of local distributors in Yellowknife, the Hide and Fur Shop, located on the second floor of the Scotia Centre and run by the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT), will close this week on Friday, September 25, 2026.
Artists can continue to purchase their hide and fur materials at the program’s wholesale prices through any of the 16 businesses and organizations on the distributor list, of which two are based in Yellowknife. With the closure of the GNWT-run shop, all sales of the program’s materials will be done through local distributors, a model that has proven successful across the territory. Closing the Hide and Fur Shop allows the GNWT to focus on distribution and increasing access throughout the territory.
The Hide and Fur Program’s materials can be purchased at wholesale prices with no markups at the following 16 approved local businesses and organizations:
- Beaufort Delta Region:
- Inuvialuit Craft Store (Inuvik)
- Just Raven Fashion & Fabrics (Inuvik)
- Mavis Jacobson Craft Shop (Inuvik)
- Ulukhaktok Development Corporation
- Dehcho Region:
- Fort Simpson Historical Society
- Liard Valley General Store & Motel (Fort Liard)
- Open Sky Creative Society (Fort Simpson)
- Thimbles Dene Crafts and Sewing Supplies (Fort Simpson)
- North Slave Region:
- Gallery of the Midnight Sun (Yellowknife)
- Mahsicho (Yellowknife)
- Sahtu Region:
- Fort Good Hope Arts and Garden Society – Yamoga Land Corp Building
- Hamlet of Tulita Office
- Norman Wells Historical Society
- South Slave Region:
- Amaamaga Unthreaded (Fort Smith)
- Mackenzie Cabins (Fort Providence)
- Sew Fine Yarn and Design (Hay River)
The Hide and Fur Program provides access to affordable hide and fur materials for Northwest Territories artists. The Program will continue working with businesses and organizations across the Northwest Territories to ensure artists have access to affordable hide and fur materials to make fine craft products that support economic development opportunities.
Businesses and organizations interested in becoming a distributor for the Hide and Fur Program can sign up at any time at no cost. For more information on signing up, please contact the Hide and Fur Program at fursales@gov.nt.ca or 867-767-9219, ext. 63107.
Learn more about the Hide and Fur Program here.
Quick facts:
- The Hide and Fur Program, run by the Government of the Northwest Territories, sources and purchases high-quality hide and fur materials that artists need to create fine craft products. These materials are then made available to artists at wholesale prices, helping artists gain a higher profit margin in the sales of their finished products.
- Hide and Fur Program materials are available for sale exclusively through 16 local distributors.
- All distributors sell the Hide and Fur Program’s materials at the same wholesale prices, with no markups.
- The Hide and Fur Program focuses on carrying the hide and fur materials most commonly used by NWT artists in their fine craft products. It also specializes in acquiring locally sourced materials like tanned ringed seal pelts, muskox hides, and polar bear pelts from Ulukhaktok.
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For media requests, please contact:
Melvin Leonard
Assistant Director, Strategic Communication
Industry, Tourism and Investment
Government of the Northwest Territories
Tel: (867) 767-9202 ext. 63038
Email: ITIcommunications@gov.nt.ca