Trudeau family gifts Barack, Michelle Obama with Canadian-made presents
Gifts to president and first lady made by indigenous artists
Esteemed etiquette expert Emily Postencouraged guests to come prepared with a gift when dining at someone else'shome, anda visit to the White House is no different.
The Trudeausgifted the Obama family, including Portuguese water dogsBo and Sunny, with Canadian-made goods.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave President Barack Obama a soapstone sculpture called Courage by Woodland Cree sculptor Leo Arcand of the Alexander First Nations reserve in northern Alberta.
It came as a surprise to the artist.
Arcandsaid hegot a callWednesday morning from Bearclaw Gallery in Edmonton, where his work has beenshown for the past two decades.
"She said, 'I have some great news. One of your pieces was given as a gift to PresidentObama.'I'm, like, 'What? How did that happen?' I didn't really know what to say."
The sculpture was listed for $650 online.
Sophie Grgoire-Trudeau gave Michelle Obamaanative aboriginal beaded cape by Tammy Beauvais of Kahnawake, Que.
Beauvais said it'snavy blue, Obama's favourite colour, and includes three small glass beads that belonged to hergreat-grandmother.
"I only use them once in a while.I put three on the cape, one in each beaded flower," shesaid.
The two Obamasisters, teenagersMalia and Sasha, received "Maverick" scarves by Ottawa designer Krista Norris. The long scarves are listed at $138 on her company website.
And last, but not least, the White House's canine residents received all-weather dog boots by Toronto company Muttluks.
Owner Marianne Bertrand donated more than 850 sets of boots to the 300 search and rescue dogs at Ground Zero on 9/11.