By Robert Miller | Founder of Sea Fur Sewing | Sitka, Alaska4
My name is Robert Miller. I am Tlingit, from the Kiks.ádi clan of Sitka, Alaska. My Tlingit name is K’eináxh.
When people see the sea otter fur blankets, traditional fur hats, seal skin products, and other handmade pieces we create at Sea Fur Sewing, they often see a beautiful finished product. What they don’t always see is the history, the responsibility, and the generations of knowledge behind it.
For me, Sea Fur Sewing has never been just about making and selling fur products. It’s about keeping a way of life alive.
Our traditions weren’t created in a classroom or written down in a manual. They were learned through generations of living off the land and sea, watching our elders, working with our hands, and understanding the resources that sustained our people.
I believe we have a responsibility to carry that knowledge forward.
My Kiks.ádi Roots Run Deep
In Tlingit culture, our clan identity is passed down through our mother’s side of the family. My Kiks.ádi heritage connects me to generations of family who lived in Southeast Alaska long before I was born.
As I have researched my family history, I’ve learned more about the people who came before me, including my great-grandmother and earlier generations of my family.
That history means a great deal to me.
It reminds me that the knowledge and opportunities we have today didn’t begin with us. They came from generations of people who worked hard, survived difficult times, and maintained their cultural identity.
Our ancestors depended on the ocean, forests, rivers, and everything Southeast Alaska provided. They understood the seasons, respected the animals, and knew how to make use of the resources around them.
I want my children and grandchildren to understand that connection too.
Food First: Respecting What We Harvest
One of the most important principles I follow is simple:
Food comes first.
When we harvest seals, the meat is an important food resource. Sharing traditional foods with elders and others in our communities is something I take seriously.
The hides can then be transformed into useful, beautiful items that honor the animal and the traditions of our people.
Sea otter fur has its own important place in Alaska Native craftsmanship. Its incredible warmth, density, and durability make it one of the most remarkable natural materials available.
At Sea Fur Sewing, we create handmade sea otter fur hats, blankets, mittens, slippers, and other items using skills that connect traditional knowledge with modern craftsmanship.
I believe that respecting a resource includes understanding where it comes from, how it was harvested, and the work required to turn it into something meaningful.
The finished product is only one part of the story.
Teaching the Next Generation
One of the most rewarding parts of my life has been working with young people through cultural education and traditional harvesting programs.
I’ve had opportunities to take youth out on the water, teach boating safety, harvest and process fish, work around smokehouses, and share knowledge that you simply cannot learn by sitting behind a desk.
These experiences are about much more than learning how to fish or handle equipment.
They’re about patience, responsibility, teamwork, respect, and developing confidence.
When a young person learns how to safely operate a boat, identify fish, prepare food, or provide for elders, they’re learning life skills while reconnecting with their culture.
I’ve seen how much these experiences can mean to them.
And I believe the knowledge we don’t pass down is knowledge we risk losing.
That’s one of the reasons this work is so important to me.
From Traditional Knowledge to Sea Fur Sewing
I founded Sea Fur Sewing in 2013, and over the years it has grown into something much bigger than I originally imagined.
Today, we’re creating luxury Alaska Native-made fur products for customers across the United States.
Some of our work includes large handcrafted sea otter fur blankets, fur hats, mittens, gloves, slippers, and custom pieces.
The materials are exceptional, but the value isn’t just in the fur.
It’s also in the time spent preparing materials, selecting and matching individual pieces, cutting, sewing, finishing, and paying attention to the details that make each item unique.
No two pieces of natural fur are exactly alike.
When I make something for a customer, I want it to be something they can appreciate for many years and potentially pass down through their own family.
I also want customers to understand the Alaska Native craftsmanship and cultural history behind what they’re purchasing.
Building a Future Without Forgetting the Past
One of the challenges for traditional cultural businesses is finding ways to grow while remaining true to who we are.
I’ve been fortunate to receive recognition for Sea Fur Sewing, including the Path to Prosperity award through Spruce Root.
That opportunity has helped support the continued growth of our business, including developing our online presence so customers around the country can learn about our products and the people who make them.
But no matter how much Sea Fur Sewing grows, I don’t want to lose sight of why it matters.
Our culture is not simply something from the past. It’s something we continue to live today.
We can use modern equipment, build websites, reach customers around the world, and operate successful businesses while still honoring the traditional values that brought us here.
I believe those things can work together.
What I Hope to Leave Behind
As I get older, I find myself thinking more about what I want to leave for my children, grandchildren, and future generations.
Of course, I want Sea Fur Sewing to be successful.
But success means more to me than the number of products we sell.
I want young people to know where they come from. I want them to have opportunities to learn traditional harvesting, food preparation, and craftsmanship. I want them to understand the importance of helping elders and giving back to their communities.
And I want them to see that our traditions still have a place in today’s world.
If Sea Fur Sewing can help keep even a small part of that knowledge alive, then this business has accomplished something much more important than selling fur products.
Our ancestors carried these traditions for generations. Now it’s our responsibility to carry them forward.
Gunalchéesh — Thank you.
Discover Sea Fur Sewing
Sea Fur Sewing is an Alaska Native-owned business based in Sitka, Alaska, specializing in handcrafted sea otter fur, seal skin, and custom fur products.
Explore our handcrafted products and learn more about our story at www.seafursewing.com.
Read our Spruce Root feature: Path to Prosperity Winner Spotlight: Q&A with Robert Miller
