As a beadweaver for more than 30 years, I’ve come to think of this ancient craft as an outlet for my many visual inspirations. From customary patterns of the Indigenous Peoples of North America, to contemporary design elements, I revel in the shapes and colours with which we decorate our lives.
In many cultures and families, beadwoven pieces are made, worn, mended, and cared for with great respect, often passed down through generations. The craft itself is also passed down mother to son, father to daughter, and grows and survives with each new beadweaver.
My father's family is Ojibwe from Fort William First Nation, and growing up near the Great Lakes, I was introduced to beadwork by the Anishinaabe. I was struck by the obvious time invested in each piece of carefully woven beadwork, and the way each shape or colour might communicate something about the culture within which it was created. This beautiful melding of history and craftsmanship has remained my creative outlet to this day.
I’ve worked with every bead and stitch under the sun, and today I primarily work with Japanese delica beads, and a small number of traditional beadweaving stitches. I never use a loom; each bead is sewn into the piece individually, often at home with my family, or travelling in the Pacific Northwest. My craft tends to follow me everywhere.
I make only non-ceremonial beadwoven pieces, and am honoured to have my culture and craft celebrated through your interest in my work as an Indigenous maker. Thank you for supporting Indigenous craft and craftspeople.