Métis Nation

Reclaiming what was stolen. Growing up I always knew I was Métis but it was more something mentioned in passing, there were never any traditional teachings passed down, I never grew up feeling like Métis was a part of me that I could claim.

My “Métis Nation” patch that took approximately 5 months of beading on and off.

Reclaiming what was stolen.

Growing up I always knew I was Métis but it was more something mentioned in passing, there were never any traditional teachings passed down, I never grew up feeling like Métis was a part of me that I could claim. I can’t ever be certain why, because my papas is no longer around to ask, but I can only think that part of it was shame. Shame that was violently forced on Indigenous folks by colonizers, a shame that is not ours to bear.

Since I can remember, I’ve been proud to be Métis but (and I’m ashamed to say this) only now am I really discovering why. The resiliency through the decades fills me with such great pride and even now, my generation and younger relearning and reclaiming for the future.

I’m a go go go kind of person. If I think of an idea I need to remedy it IMMEDIATELY. Beading has taught me how to slooooooow down in such a beautiful way. Beading takes time, care, and patience. Above all, I love creating and I rush to see the final product but your final product is only going to be as good as how many hours you put into it. This one took me 5 weeks of picking it up and putting it down to work on other things but I’m so happy with how it turned out and I‘m so ready to proudly wear it on my back.

HUGE thank you to everyone in the beading community who cheered me on with this one I needed that more than you know.