In her piece, I Must Share My Gift for It to Grow, Ojibway bead artist Malinda Gray discusses her artwork, the role it plays in her life and culture, and the importance of understanding what cultural appropriation is. In a related piece, Me, Dan Levy, and the Mighty Bead, Michelle Woodvine writes about the intense learning she’s done about Indigenous peoples, history, and culture. Michelle found the following resources helpful and informative, and we hope you’ll find them valuable to your own learning, too. – Eds.
Learning
- University of Alberta Faculty of Native Studies Indigenous Canada course
- âpihtawikosisân (information about cultural appropriation)
- Justine Woods (slow fashion & the Ryerson University beading circle)
- Beads: Symbols of Indigenous Cultural Resilience and Value, MA thesis by Malinda Gray (PDF)
Beading in the News
- Beading a map of Canada – part 1
- Beading a map of Canada – part 2
- Beading circle community
- Beading circles
- Teaching math with beads
- Memory, Meaning-Making, and Collections initiative
- Walking With Our Sisters
- Rebecca Belmore, Trace
- First Nations artist Rebecca Belmore creates a blanket of beads
- Indigenous Beadwork Drops on Instagram
Starter List of Bead Artists to Follow
Workshops and Suppliers
Digits & Threads Is a Member-Supported Independent Online Magazine
The articles, tutorials and patterns we publish about Canadian fibre and textile arts, crafts and industry are made possible by our members.