NWT Arts

Art to me is something passed down from my mother, not just for me but all of my family. I take a lot of care when creating new pieces, even taking them apart and remaking them if I don’t like how the colors, or the pattern is working out. One of my biggest motivations though, is just seeing the reaction in other people when they look at my work.

I was born in Fort Providence, originally the Beaver Lake area. I create traditional beadwork on moose hide and other materials, but sometimes incorporate non-traditional designs as well. I picked up the skill from watching my mother and sisters work, and practiced from there. I find it fun to pick the beads out, and then watch the outcome of the project as it unfolds - like noticing the colors that really pop when it’s completed.

Most of my pieces are fully beaded designs; I don’t only do the pattern, but fill in the rest of the blank space with beads as well. It takes quite a bit longer, but I really like how they turn out. The larger pieces I do are belts and guitar straps, but they’re also fully beaded like most of my smaller items. I’m always looking for interesting and challenging patterns, not just the smaller designs.