NWT Arts

I am a queer Tlicho artist. I was taught how to bead by my late Mama cho, Rosalie Zoe-Fish. When I first started my business, I wanted to keep the tradition and her memory alive by including her name Rosalie in my business, I asked my grandma what the work "rose" was in Tlicho and she told me it was "Dahbaa" and that is when Dahbaa Creations was made.

In my beadwork, I use a lot of traditional material; traditionally smoke hide, sweet grass, porcupine quills, and the colors from nature. My creations comes from nature that surrounds me or ideas that I have come up with. When I have an idea, I write a note in my note book and draw it out, or I will go and bead when the idea pops in my head. 

When I sew, I keep make sure I am calm and collected; I never want to put bad energy into my bead work and pass it on to buyers. Beading has always been a form of grounding to me and has been my main focus when I am healing. It also has given me the opportunity to feel more connected with my ancestors and my late mama cho. Spending time with my grandmothers while beading, they always told stories about what life was like when growing up and how things were done - I always loved hearing their stories, hearing them laugh about the memories they shared - and I want to have those experiences with my future children. I always believed it is important to have those moments with children to build a powerful bond and pass on the teachings.