I am a 16-year-old aspiring artist from the Swan River Band.

Wanting to help my brother and I reconnect with our culture, my mom reached out to our band to see if we could join virtual craft nights (since we don’t live near our reserve). While there was no virtual option, our band sent us patterns, YouTube video links and a supply list to make traditional moose hide mittens. That experience sparked my interest in beading.

Since I didn’t have anyone to teach me, I taught myself by following patterns and online tutorials. Over time, I developed my own patterns and designs, starting with my nature collection, inspired by some of my favorite places.