NWT Arts

I’m a traditional beadwork artist who creates contemporary looks. I particularly love making beaded earrings, incorporating caribou tufting, quillwork and smoked hides in my designs. Intricate designs and unique pieces give me so much joy. I first learned how to bead through trial and error with the help of loved ones and online tutorials.  

My biggest inspiration is my Grandma, Dora Vital who lived in Délįnę. She was an amazing beader. I am also continuously inspired by my Mom who is also a talented beader. My granny sewed us slippers as kids and we always got new ones as our feet got bigger. My mom would sew us parkas. I can see now that it was all a labour of love. I used to sit with my granny while she would smoke hides in her teepee. I grew up seeing these traditional practices and seeing my granny and my Mom beading all the time. I'm so thankful to have grown up with this and to start myself - and that I'm able to understand the peace that it brings.

As I was learning how to bead on my own, I slowly got the hang of it because I kept practicing. It’s crucial for me to be able to keep this valuable cultural tradition going for myself and my community. Making beaded art is a meditative and spiritual experience that always circles back to healing. It’s important to have an outlet to release and make space for something new.

I started beading as a hobby, but it transitioned into something bigger as I improved with practice. I love to challenge myself by continuously learning new things. Beading isn’t always perfect, but it’s important to remain disciplined and aim for the best quality.

Beading represents my culture, and I'm very proud of it. I believe that I have this talent because of who I am and where I come from. Making traditional art goes back generations. It’s something my Grandma has done, that my Mom did, and now I am doing it too. I like to focus on our generational healing — that’s what keeps me moving forward. We are creative, resilient and loving, and it shows through our artwork.

To anyone who might be thinking about starting to bead to reconnect with their culture - especially if you’re feeling overwhelmed and things looks too daunting - I would say: just start! It takes practice. If I have been able to do it, so can you. It has brought so much light and healing into my life, and I wouldn’t want anyone to miss out on that.