The Flower Beadwork Collective
Group Gallery Exhibition
THE FLOWER BEADWORK COLLECTIVE is a collaboration of women from the Elk Valley, primarily Métis, who initially came together to learn traditional Métis / Indigenous beadwork methods. The name ‘Flower Beadwork Collective’ is in reference to a name give by Indigenous cultures to the Métis people, as the Flower Beadwork People. The Métis were known for the abundance of beaded floral motifs that decorated their clothing and everyday items. The women in the Collective are a variety of ages, most being Métis, some Indigenous and some allies, all with an interest in exploring the beautiful art / craftwork of beading. The Elk Valley Métis Association has helped to sponsor and continues to support the ‘Collective’ as members continue meeting at a weekly beading circle.
Beading Group
Throughout the Exhibition, The Flower Beadwork Collective will meet weekly at the Fernie Arts Station. Drop-in to meet the makers and observe the process!
Wednesdays | 12:00pm – 3:00pm
About the Artists
Tessa Stanley
Tessa Stanley is Métis, born in northern Saskatchewan and raised in Lac La Biche, Alberta. Tessa currently lives in Fernie, BC and works as an artist, who enjoys landscape painting and beading / crafting traditional items. Although she had Métis Grandmothers who would sew and bead, Tessa preferred spending her childhood outdoors. She took her first class in Mukluk making from Elder Joyce Beaver, in St. Albert, Alberta in 2020. Tessa loves sharing this knowledge with others and being part of the beadwork collective to continue to learn, grow and develop this important traditional skill.
BEADWORK
Mittens – leather, glass beads, melton wool and beaver fur (up cycled from her Aunty’s coat)
Baby Moccasins – leather, glass beads, melton wool and rabbit fur.
Alice Hansen (nee Bourque) 1913 – 1992
Alice Hansen was a Cree / Métis woman born and raised in Owl River, Alberta, until she was sent to residential school in Ft. Chipewyan, Alberta. Alice learned to bead and sew as a child and created many beautiful mukluks, moccasins and other items for her large family well into her 70’s. Alice was mother to Beader Evelyn Hutchinson of the Fernie Beadwork Collective and grandmother of Tessa Stanley, also a Beadwork Collective member.
BEADWORK
Large Shadow Box –
Child’s Coat – Wool, silk liner, beads, fur
Adult Moccasins – leather, wool, beads, fur
Linda Lalonde
A lifelong resident of Fernie, Linda has raised her family in the community and has deep roots in the Elk Valley. Her grandparents on her father’s side were Cree/French Métis, and her great-grandparents, Gilbert Breland and Felicite Boyer, were Cree/French. Her great-grandparents were active during the 1855 Resistance at both Tourond’s Coulee and Batoche.
An avid maker, she enjoys sewing, quilting, and exploring a variety of other crafts. More recently, she has been learning the art of Métis flower beadwork with the guidance of Tessa Stanley. This shared interest led to the creation of a weekly beading circle at the Seniors Centre during the fall and winter months. Through beading, she enjoys connecting with others and celebrating the artistic traditions and skills passed down through her ancestors.
Laurie Scott
Laurie is curious and passionate about art, culture, and community. Growing up in Treaty 1 Territory, she was introduced to beadwork through public school education and her family’s relationships and allyship with Indigenous communities.
She has continued to deepen her understanding through workshops, community events, and cultural gatherings, approaching these experiences with respect and a commitment to lifelong learning. As an art therapist and artist, Laurie recognizes creativity as a way to foster listening, reflection, connection, and healing. Her practice is grounded in cultural humility, safety, and reconciliation, and informed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.
Marg Fraser
Margaret Fraser is a self taught artist living in Fernie. Since retirement she has discovered a love for quilting, sewing, watercolours, coloured pencils, acrylics, and now beading.
Fernie life is special as life is shared with three generations of family nearby. It’s a bit chaotic, often noisy but always full of love, laughter and adventure. The Fernie Frasers are custodians of the old moccasins because of our connection to the Fort Chipewyan Métis Nation in Northern Alberta.
Evelyn Hutchinson
Evelyn Hutchinson is a descendant of the Bourque and Desjarlais Métis families of Owl River, Lac La Biche and Fort Fitzgerald in Alberta and Fort Smith, in the Northwest Territories. Evelyn began beading with a moccasin making class, offered by her daughter, Tessa Stanley in Fernie in January 2025.
Leslee Hickerson
Leslee Hickerson (Leslee nitisiyihkâson) is Métis, descended from Cree and Scottish (Orkney) ancestry. She is from the Northwestern Ontario community of Atikokan (nitôhcîn Atikokanihk, ôtênaw pahkisi-kîwêtinohk Ontario-ihk).
Leslee grew up knowing that she was Indigenous, although it was not something her family talked about. She was introduced to beading in January 2025, and it has quickly become her obsession.
BEADWORK
Baby Moccasins and mittens – Melton wool, deer hide, rabbit fur, synthetic sinew, Czech glass seed beads, polyester thread.
Earrings and poppies: Melton wool, Czech glass seed beads, polyester thread, faux leather
Girls’ Purse – Melton wool, Czech glass seed beads, polyester thread
Liza Gareau Tosh
Liza Gareau Tosh is of French-Canadian and Métis ancestry born and raised in the Batoche Homeland in Saskatchewan and has lived in Fernie with her family since 2012. Liza has been a self-taught artist from a young age starting with drawing, but went on to making art a main-stay in her life, from earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Saskatchewan in 2006 and making an art gallery and
concert venue out of a reappropriated church in 2009 (Routes Gallery in Harris, SK).
Liza recently expanded her art making into beading when she met Tessa Stanley and is enjoying the process as well as the camaraderie and connection to heritage.
Pat Moore
Pat grew up in Sask but was unaware she was of Métis heritage, did not know traditions which she learned in her adult years and been a part of Métis group in elk valley for 30 +years. She is an artist and now learning the art of beading from her indigenous sisters. In this show she presents baby moccasins and gauntlet mitts and will continue to make more beaded items for use.
Mandy Nemanishen
Mandy Nemanishen (Parenteau) moved to the Elk Valley eight years ago. Her family has deep roots in the Duck Lake and Batoche areas of Saskatchewan. Growing up Métis, Mandy’s father instilled in her and her siblings a strong sense of pride in their culture and family.
Some of Mandy’s fondest childhood memories are of visiting her grandparents in Duck Lake, where the house was often filled with family and friends, with fiddles playing, dancing, and plenty of food. Her grandparents spoke Michif, though unfortunately the language did not continue beyond their generation.
Learning to bead was a new experience for Mandy. This piece was her first beading project, and she loved the opportunity to express her culture through a creative and meaningful art form.
Tayler Guillion
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Tayler Gullion oma nitisiyihkâson. nehiyawiskwew oma niya.
niwîhtên oma kitôtêminawak ota otaskîwâhk ktunaxa.
nitataminân ota ê-wîkiyahk ekwa ê-atoskêyahk
ay hay kahiyaw niwâhkômâkanak
my name is tayler, i am a cree / metis woman
I acknowledge that we are in the territory of our friends: the ktunaxa.
I am thankful that we are able to live here and to do our work.
BIOGRAPHY
Tayler ᓂᑎᓯᔨᐦᑳᓱᐣ
Holly ᐃᓯᔨᐦᑳᓱᐤ ᓂᑳᐏᐩ ᐁᑿ Randy ᐃᓯᔨᐦᑳᓱᐤ ᓅᐦᑖᐏᐩ
ᐊᔭᐦᒋᔨᓂᐤ ᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ ᐅᐦᒌ ᓂᔮ ᑲᔮᐦᑌ ᐁᑿ ᐊᔭᐦᒋᔨᓂᐤ ᓵᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ ᓂᑮ ᐯ ᐅᐦᐱᑭᐣ
ᒫᑲ ᒣᒁᐨ ᓈᓂᑕᐤ ᓃᓱᓴᑊ ᐊᐢᑭᔭ ᐊᐢᐱᐣ ᐁ ᐏᑭᔮᐣ ᐊᐘᓵᐱᐢᑯᕽ (Fernie).
Tayler nitisiyihkâson. nehiyawiskwew oma niya
Holly isiyihkâsow nikâwiy êkwa Randy isiyihkâsow nôhtâwiy
ayahciyiniw sâkahikan ohcî niyâ kayâhtê êkwa ayahciyiniw sâkahikan nikî-pê-ohpikin.
mâka mêkwâc nânitaw nîsosap askiya aspin e-mâci-wikiyân awasâpiskohk (Fernie).
BEADWORK
ᐊᐢᑎᐢ astis (mittens)- Made with the elk valley metis association
materials: leather, rabbit fur, felt, glass beads
ᒪᐢᑭᒧᐟ maskimot (medicine pouch)- a contemporary take on traditional medicine. materials: felt,
leather, glass and acrylic beads, polyester thread, sweetgrass
ᒥᐦᑯᑿᓂᐩ ᐊᑯᒁᒋᑲᓇ mihkokwaniy akokwâcikana (rose patches) materials: felt, cotton, acrylic beads,
polyester thread
ᒪᐢᑭᓯᓇ maskisina (shoes) : A gift to nôhtawiy (my father) Made by nicapan (my great-grandmother) Mariah Ghostkeeper in 1982 in Wabasca Alberta. She was in her 80s when she made them.