I first learned to bead from my grandmother and mother. I remember as a little girl, sitting and watching my Kohkum and her sisters bead together.

My grandma raised me during my early years, while my mom was away at school in the city. I remember watching my grandma sew and bead.

It wasn't until I was an adult that I really learned how to bead on my own. My mother and I found a bead store down the street from where we lived. We went in and bought the basic supplies needed to start a beading project. We went home to start our projects. At first it was hard, my mom tried her best to explain and show me. It was frustrating, but then it just felt natural. Now whenever I am beading, or creating things, I feel at home. Like it's something I'm supposed to be doing.

It has been 15 years, but beading is always on my mind. While I often feel like I still have a lot to learn, as a teacher I love to share my knowledge with young people.