Ophelia O’Donnell

Anishinaabe, Ontario

Thank you for stopping by my profile!

Initially, I learned to bead from my auntie, she taught me how to bead-wrap things. Pretty soon, I started bead-wrapping everything I could! I learned how to two needle flat stitch from a good friend and mentor, who was kind, patient and full of the type of laughter that makes everyone around her happy too.

I started to really pursue beading in the beginning days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Depressed and unfocused, beading helped to recenter me and walk in a positive direction.

My art represents my culture by being rooted in traditionalism and represents me by incorporating pop culture or images that speak to where I am in my life.

Now, I pass on my knowledge whenever I can. Whether it is people learning to bead or build on their skills, I believe the Indigenous arts community is circular -whenever one of us improves, we can teach that, and by doing that the Indigenous art community becomes stronger as a whole.