Alberta Métis Fest 2024 Artisans
As One Creeations • Ava Beads • Barefoot and Beaded • Beaded Chickadee • Beading Medicine
Beadwork by Orlean Lizotte • Brandon Atkinson • Brendas Creative Collections • Christina is Métis
Colby Calliou • Connie Kulhavy • Crocus Coulee Reworn • DBA Miyaw Design • Eagle Sprirt Creations
Glasses 2 Go • Grace-Anne Grant • Hailey-Emma McRae • Jessica Jane Art • Joan Setz • Leslie Keith Naturals
Lorraine Parenteau • Marie Ruby Pruden • May Beads • Melanie Hannigan Fine Art Studio • Métis Art by Judy Osler
Michif Beading • Modern Métis • Okimaskwew Artisan • Payton Rose Levy • Prairie Roots Beading
Rose and Clover Beadwork • Spirit Bead Keeper • Sum Beading • Sylvia Johnson
Twisted Sister Designz • Kimberley Pruden • AND MORE
Check out some of our amazing Artisans!
As One Creeations: Joanne Halcrow
@AsOneCreeations
jchalcrow@hotmail.com
My name is Joanne Halcrow (nee Auger) I was raised on East Prairie Métis Settlement and along the shores of Lesser Slave Lake. I am the mother of 3 children and 6 grandchildren. My focus has always been our culture as I was raised by strong Métis parents with so much family and extended family influence.
Ava’s Beadwork: Ava Nastiuk
@avas.beadwork
avanastiuk@gmail.com
Tansi! My name is Ava Nastiuk. I am a Métis woman born and raised on Treaty 6 territory. I recently started learning beadwork in 2020 as a way to cope with my personal struggles during the pandemic. I self-taught myself with tutorials online along with support from my mom and my kookum. My kookum also helped me learn how to sew and make dreamcatchers. I find that beadwork has become a form of therapy for me as well as a way to connect with my heritage. I encourage everyone to give it a try! I always thought it was too late to try because I didn’t have the chance to grow up learning that much about my culture so I felt like I had nowhere to start from but I’m glad I gave it a chance because it helped me discover and educate myself. If you’d like to check out my work, my instagram is avas.beadwork ! Hiy Hiy 🙂
Barefoot and Beaded: Maria Hughes
barefootandbeaded.square.site
Tansi! I am Maria Hughes, creator of Barefoot and Beaded. I began my beadwork journey in 2020 after spending many years reconnecting to my Métis heritage. I am primarily a self-taught beadwork artist and have recently learned how to tuft. I currently live, work, and bead on Treaty 7 territory and Métis Nation Battle River Territory in District 5. I am a student at the University of Calgary, completing my Master’s thesis on Métis governance and the credible assertion process.
beaded chickadee : Krista Leddy
@beadedchickadee
beadedchickadee@gmail.com
Krista Leddy is a proud Métis woman whose family comes from the historical Métis communities of St. Albert and Lac St. Anne. She currently calls amiskwaciywâskahikan (Edmonton) home. Having found many opportunities to share Métis culture and create art, Krista started her business beaded chickadee in 2015. Much of her work in markets consists of one of a kind boujee beaded items, fun Métis themed apparel, and shiny bits and bobs that make her inner magpie happy.
beadingmedicine: Stephanie Chambers
@beadingmedicine
beadingmedicine@gmail.com
Founded in 2020 by Cree-Métis artist Stephanie Chambers, Beading Medicine is home to a blend of traditional and contemporary Métis beadwork, art, and design put forth with the intention of cultural preservation and celebration.
Brandon Atkinson: Brandon Atkinson
brandeenoo_118@hotmail.com
Christina Is Métis: Christina Strandlund
@ChristinaIsMetis
kandcs27@gmail.com
Colby Calliou : Colby Calliou
calliouc23@mymacewan.ca
My name is Colby Calliou I live on the kikino Métis settlement. I do not have a business name nor do I really market social media as I do like to organically meet others and do buying and trading in person I really enjoy the organics about it. I create a lot of items from blankets to fully beaded powwow regalia and everything in between I have a soft spot for making bonnets for babies.
DBA Miyaw Design: Nadine & Joyce Fortier
nadine_f@shaw.ca
My mother, Joyce and I, Nadine, have been doing Métis and Indigenous crafts for many years. We DBA Miyaw Designs and Miyaw Arts. As I was growing up, my mother worked for the Métis Nation of Alberta so we have been involved with the organization all of my life and are long time members. Although we do many types of Indigenous crafts, our current items will consist mostly of clothing (Ribbon Shirts, Ribbon Skirts, Vests made from Hudson Bay Blankets), hats, and framed / unframed artwork.
Eagle Spirit Creations: Laurisa Irwin
eaglespiritcreations@outlook.com
Tansi my name is Laurisa Irwin I am a full time single mom to my beautiful daughter Rita and we are Métis living in Calgary on treaty 7 territory however my family is originally from Manitoba. Growing up my mom always did crafts with me and I was always a creative person. I started my beading journey in July 2019 as a way to reclaim and connect to my culture more. Being of mixed heritage I always felt like I didn’t fit in and that I was lost. Once i really started beading I was instantly hooked on it and started to feel like I belonged and became more confident and comfortable with who I am as a Métis woman. Beading has become a way for me to practice self care and has taught me so many lessons about patience, love, humility and so much more. I am grateful to be able to share this through my work.
Floral Moon Beadwork: Marissa McDougall
marissa.mcdougall11@gmail.com
I started beading a few years ago and it’s become a cherished passion of mine. Not only does it offer me a creative outlet, but it also serves as a meaningful connection to my Métis heritage. Being able to share my beadwork fills me with immense gratitude, and witnessing others appreciate and resonate with my creations brings me indescribable joy. It’s truly a beautiful way to express myself and celebrate my cultural identity.
Glasses to Go: Christine Zacharko
glasses2go@shaw.ca
Christine Zacharko is an award-winning business woman, a visionary optician, and the owner of Glasses to Go. For over 25 years, she has dedicated herself to her patients and business, which has become the leading mobile eyeglass company in Canada. Christine is passionate about removing barriers to quality vision care, and goes above and beyond to meet her patients’ needs. Christine has a great selection of aboriginal frames, crystal frames, and everything in between. We are changing lives, One frame at a time.
Grace-Anne Grant
graceannegrant@gmail.com
As a young Métis artist, I’ve always prioritized keeping traditional artwork alive. Immersed in my culture and learning from Elders and Knowledge Keepers, I’ve developed a deep appreciation and love for my heritage. The beautiful, bright colors of nature inspire me to capture the stories of the natural world around me. I aim to captivate people not only with my artwork but also with the stories behind it.
Hailey-Emma McRae
haileyemma.mcrae@gmail.com
Tansi! My name is Hailey-Emma, and I am Métis/Cree. I started beading a little less than two years ago when I started making ribbon skirts, which inspired me to bead, and thankful to have been taught by other Métis women: Orlean Lizotte and Olivia Albert. I decided to start selling beadwork as a means of supporting myself, connecting with my culture, and supporting something I believe in! That is why I will be donating 10% of the proceeds to @oski_ihtawin – which means a new community. It is a starting group here in Edmonton that aims to connect young Indigenous adults together and their culture through workshops and gatherings, which I find very important.
Jessica Jane AA: Jessica Hughes
@jessicajaneart
jhughes@jessicajane.ca
I am a glass and fibre artist residing in rural central Alberta on Treaty 7 and Métis Nation Battle River Territory. I create accessories, garments and jewelry from both glass and fibre. My glass items are created with imported Italian glass melted in a glassblowing torch and kiln annealed. My fibre works are created with natural plant and animal fibres, locally sourced wherever possible. My work is inspired by my love of nature and my Métis heritage.
Lori Parenteau Métis Artisan: Lori Parenteau
parenteaulori07@gmail.com
I live at Paddle Prairie Métis settlement, where I grew up. I started sewing and crafting at the age of 10. Today I sew Ribbon skirts and shirts, bead earrings and make and teach how to make drums and rawhide rattles.
May Beads: Ella Thomson
@_maybeads
ellathomson6@icloud.com
Ella Thomson is a Métis artist from treaty one territory with familial ties to St Francis Xavier and Turtle Mountain. Ella is a Citizen of the Manitoba Métis federation and a proud member of the Two-Spirit Métis Local. Their primary medium is beadwork, taking inspiration from traditional Métis beadwork. They are also a student in Native Studies at the University of Alberta. They most recently exhibited their work at McMullen Gallery and Latitude 53.
Melanie Hannigan Fine Art Studio: Melanie Hannigan
melanie0077@live.ca
My name is Melanie Hannigan. I am a Métis artist living in Fort Saskatchewan. I sell archival grade prints of my original works of acrylic on canvas.
Métis Art By Judy: Judy Osler
judyosler@live.com
Michif Beading : Kayla Mcdougall
kmcdougall94@gmail.com
Taanishi, my name is Kayla McDougall. My family is Red River Métis from Batoche Saskatchewan. I have been beading for a couple of years now, it has been a way to express my creativity and reconnect to Métis culture and art. I am a citizen of the Métis nation of Alberta and I am involved and committed to our community. I am also a social worker and I work primarily with Indigenous youth in care. I am passionate about helping my community and trying to make positive changes towards reconciliation.
Beadwork by Orlean Lizotte: Orlean Lizotte
orlean.lizotte@yahoo.ca
Grew up in northern Alberta, born in Fort Vermilion and raised on the Paddle Prairie Métis Settlement before moving away for school in 1988. Over the years, she had worked various jobs until deciding it was more important to stay at home and raise her little family while husband, Brian worked away from home. Their two daughters had started playing the fiddle in 2011, and the family immersed themselves in the Métis community. This is where she was reintroduced to beading and has not put it down since.
Prairie Roots Beading Co: Chantell Sillito
sillitochantell@gmail.com
Hi, my name is Chantell Sillito, and I’m a 31-year-old mom to two little girls. During the Covid pandemic, I found myself needing a way to reconnect with culture. That’s when I decided to teach myself how to bead. I enjoyed it so much that I started giving my beadwork as gifts to family and friends. Their positive feedback and encouragement inspired me to share my creations with a wider audience. That’s how Prairie Roots Beading was born! Prairie Roots Beading is a place where anyone can find beautiful beadwork to enjoy. I put a lot of love and care into each piece. I hope my beadwork brings joy and a sense of connection to others, just as it has for me. Thank you for taking the time to learn about Prairie Roots Beading. I look forward to sharing my creations with you and spreading the love for beadwork and culture.
Rose & Clover Beadwork: Lena McFaul
roseandcloverbeadwork@gmail.com
Started in 2021, Rose & Clover Beadwork began as a little side project where I wanted to connect to my heritage through the art of beadwork. My little side project expanded over the years to be so much more – it became an outlet for my experiences and a space where I found community, a place where I can be myself and truly be enough. I like to portray that feeling with my art where I can create something for everyone where others can have that sense of belonging and acceptance ♡
Rpruden Designs: Ruby Pruden
mariepruden@ymail.com
My name is Marie Ruby Pruden. I prefer to be called Ruby. I’m Métis originally from McLennan AB. I moved to Edmonton AB in 1994 to further my education in the social work field. I taught myself how to make ribbon skirts & ribbon shirts.I mainly make Metis style skirts & shirts. I’ve sewing for a few now. It gives great pleasure to sew and to see my skirts worn with pride in many different communities all over Canada.
spiritbead.keeper: Tori Ghostkeeper
ghostkeepertori@gmail.com
Tori Ghostkeeper, a proud Métis iskwew and mother from Paddle Prairie Métis Settlement, Fort Vermilion and High Level, Alberta. Tori used mediums such as beads, quills and caribou hair.
sumbeading: Summer Sigaty
summersigaty@icloud.com
Tansi, My name is Summer and I grew up in Edmonton, but my family is from Marlboro, AB. (Belcourt and Desjarlais). I learned how to bead in 2019 at a summer youth camp and have been doing it ever since. I love to connect to my roots with different traditional arts styles and include my children in the culture and practices as much as possible.
Sylvia Johnson
svjohnsonex1@gmail.com