Suzan Marie is a Decesuline/Cree woman born and raised in the Northwest Territories. As a residential school survivor, Suzan has experienced firsthand the loss of culture and language that deeply impacted her life. In response, she is reclaiming her culture through being from a long line of traditional artisans. A traditional teacher keeping ancient Dene skills alive for over thirty years, Suzan co-authored two books, Whadoo tehmi / Long-ago people’s packsack Dene babiche bags: tradition and revival and Dene spruce root basketry / Dene ts’ukegáí tene rahesi: revival of a tradition, also referred to as the Dene suitcase and Dene pots and pans.

Suzan has taught across Canada and the US to all ages through what she calls reconciliation healing. She works with moose hair, porcupine quills, moose and caribou hooves, dentalium shell, angler, spruce-root, babiche bags, bone, beads, and embroidery using contemporary and traditional techniques. She sews earrings, caribou and moosehide mitts, and various styles of moccasins. In 2002, Suzan was the first recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee Medal for her commitment to keeping culture alive. A harvester of traditional materials and medicines, Suzan lives and breathes her culture. Suzan is also a mom and Setsune to her grandson Carver.