Like most Northerners, we proudly wear fur.

My parents, David and Jane Dragon, raised a large family clothed in wild furs from their trapline. We were outdoor kids in temperatures that often fell to -40°C, and we were never cold. My mother made our hats, mittens, moccasins, and parkas. Setsuné, grandmother in Dënesųłiné, has sewn with furs and hides for most of her life. Fur was how we kept warm. When I became a mother, fur kept my children warm. It was the natural choice for me.

One cold winter day, I had the idea to cut beaver fur in small squares for my friends to slip into their mitts. A while later, one of them asked if I could replace one side they’d lost. When I asked around, every single person was loving them. They’d never had fur like this before and they didn't want to be without it. What they felt was relief. Their hands were warm and they could stay outside for the moments that mattered most.

Held in the hand, that small square warmed within seconds — not by creating heat, but by holding it. No batteries. No chemicals. No disposables. Just warmth, exactly when it was needed. I realized then that this was about restoring access to something I already knew worked the best.

Aurora Heat was founded in 2015. What began as a practical solution has grown into an Indigenous and Canadian enterprise rooted in responsibility. Each pelt is used fully, crafted with pride and with respect by Indigenous women in our community.

With gratitude to the Land and to Tsa, the beaver, our relationship with nature shapes everything we do.

tThá Huná – May you live a long time,

Brenda Dragon
Founder & Lead
Fort Smith, Northwest Territories