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When a rare red aurora borealis lit up the Yukon night sky, 16‑year‑old Cohen Quash stood outside with his grandfather in Watson Lake, watching the crimson flares. He said his grandfather told him he’d never seen the aurora borealis that colour before.
That astonishing moment, Quash said, inspired his beaded art piece that became the design on the Team Yukon buff worn during the official Arctic Winter Games opening ceremonies.
A buff is a tube-shaped garment made of lightweight, stretchy material usually worn around the neck, face and head during outdoor activities.
Quash said he was elated to be chosen to create the design.
“It’s a super exciting and nervous feeling that a bunch of people are going to be seeing my art piece,” said Quash.
He said the process started with his own fully beaded artwork, which was later reproduced as a print on all the team buffs.
“I packed it up, and I mailed it, and they sent it off to production, and that’s where they copied it and they made a bunch of buffs for everyone,” said Quash.
The night sky that inspired Cohen Quash’s buff design. (Cohen Quash)
His love of beading was inspired by his great grandmother, Pansy, six years ago. She’s since passed away, but Quash thinks it would make her happy to know he’s still doing it.
“I think she would be super proud of me,” he said.
His mentor, boutique owner Douma Alwarid, put his name forward to design the buff.
“It’s like a proud parent, like my heart wants to burst out of my chest, seeing an entire roster of young athletes wearing Cohen Quash’s design,” she said.
Cohen Quash, right, wearing a sweatsuit he designed, and his mentor, Douma Alwarid. (Submitted by Douma Alwarid)
Alwarid helped Quash sell his first pieces out of her boutique, Unorthodox, when he was only 12 years old.
“[His mom] brought in four beaded owl pendants, and I sat with them and talked with them about pricing and the materials he had used, how long it took him to make the pieces. I encouraged them to price the pieces higher, and we sold all four pieces, one in my store, three online, in less than 24 hours,” said Alwarid.
This is Quash’s second time being involved in the Arctic Winter Games as an artist. He also took part in the Arctic Winter Games fashion show in Palmer, Alaska.
He said it’s an event he’s proud to be a part of.
“As an Indigenous person, it’s really cool to see them playing a bunch of traditional games while playing more modern sports, like hockey,” said Quash.
Quash said he wants the athletes who wear the buff to feel connected to the territory the design represents.
“I would want them to, like, feel kind of at home with it, like a Yukon piece with the northern lights representing them. That’s how I kind of want them to feel,” said Quash.