Alli Matchett (Secwepemc, Scottish, and English)

Alli Matchett is a beadwork artist of Secwepemc, Scottish, and English ancestry, with roots specifically to Tsq’escen and Simpcw. She is currently living on the traditional territories of the Sinixt in the West Kootenays, which is where she was born and raised. Her beadwork practice began 13 years ago, and has developed into a passion and a form of medicine. Her creations incorporate elements of the natural world, particularly flowers and the moon, utilizing bright and contrasting colours.

Instagram @allimatchett.beadwork

Coastal Bead Collective

Brandi, Jenna, & Chelsea (Interior Salish/Skwxu’7mesh/Cree & Kwakwaka’wakw women)

Yo, We’re a collective of Indigenous women from various backgrounds from unceded territories ranging from Kwakwaka’wakw territories, Nlaka’pamux people to Various Salish nations of the Southern tip of Vancouver Island and North Vancouver.

We started this journey with beads in 2014. It’s been a lot of work to get to where we are today. A lot of trial and error, cutting and resizing and edging when Brandi was trying to incorporate a way to interpret her father’s silver engraving for a college project. She interpreted his jewelry through beading her take on his jewelry. Incorporating Eagle and Thunderbird motifs and colours from her father’s homelands. To pay homage to her father through art.

Jenna began beading after asking Brandi to teach her. Their first lesson was a yelling match! Through trial and error the two sisters forged a bond through beading and soon were infusing their cultures through beadwork. Chelsea was taught basics by Brandi in 2018, and they two have really grown together. They bead every chance they get when they’re together.

The three have created Coastal Bead Collective together. Infusing their unique cultural backgrounds and personal flair to each piece they’ve created something entirely unique and beautiful together. We have since grown to add more members into our collective and even had guests collaborate this past year. It’s been an exciting opportunity for us all.

They say “Beading is medicine”, and we couldn’t agree more. It’s been a conduit for us to carry on discovering ourselves and reclaiming what was once lost. We are making our ancestors proud. We are revitalizing, reclaiming, and reindigenizing our lives one bead at a time.

Instagram @coastalbeadcollective

Nick Henry (W̱SÁNEĆ from Pauquachin Nation)

ÍY SȻÁĆEL, Nick TŦE NE SNÁ Ć,SE LÁ,E SEN EṮ W̱ SÁNEĆ. Good day, my name is Nick and I am from the Saanich Nation. I have been beading since January 2019. I mostly do fringe earrings.

Instagram: @beadingbynick

Sarah Santana aka Aunty Skoden (Cree / Métis and Irish, with a Spanish Canadian upbringing)

Aunty Skoden is Cree-Métis-Irish descent, adopted by Spanish Canadian parents and raised locally. A leader and activist in the community for over 15 years, known as Aunty Sara and as Aunty Skoden Apparel on Facebook and @aunty.skoden on Instagram.

Previously their creations were only available to front line defenders, by trade or in fundraisers for community. Their works are symbols of love and comfort, and bring good energy to the wearer.

Instagram: @aunty.skoden

Rain Cabana-Boucher (Métis and British)

Rain Cabana-Boucher is a Métis interdisciplinary artist raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, treaty 6 territory. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Victoria. Rain’s practice explores autobiographical themes in relation to place and politics. She’s a recent artist-in-residence at Skwachàys residency program in Vancouver and recipient of the First Peoples Cultural Council’s Individual artist grant. Rain will be attending PILOTENKUECHE international artist residency as an artist-in-residence in 2022. She is currently living and working on the stolen land of the Songhees, Esquimalt, and W̱ SÁNEĆ First Nations.

Instagram: @raincabanaboucherart