About

Our Story

Our Heritage

Representing our Metis Roots Through Expression, Design and creativity

Chuckie creates every piece with a purpose in mind. To support her Metis community and pay forward the teaching of the Elders. Respect and Rituals are involved in every creation.

The Art of Beading

Chuckie uses many techniques in her creations. She uses a two needle technique that gives the beads a very tight fit to the medium.

She will incorporate Porcupine Quills, Bugle Beads, Seed Beads of various sizes to get the look she wants for each creation.

Chuckie uses many different shades of Alaska Split Leather incorporated into many of the creations.

Chuckie uses a Tufting technique with Reindeer Hair and dresses projects, such as Moccasins with Rabbit Fur.

Chuckie uses home grown Tobacco incorporated into the layers of her creations. This passes along good fortune to those that choose to wear or use them.

Chuckie Places a Spirit Bead in an otherwise flawless piece of art as an act of humility, recognizing the inherent imperfection of Humans.

Its a wonderful sentiment not to expect perfection from yourself or others.

Custom Designs

We build your idea into reality

Chuckie can be contacted for special requests. Hand Made Projects take many hours to complete and the care that goes into them takes time. If you have special requests or projects please contact us. Chuckie is always looking for ways to add creative beading to everyday life. As it always was. As it always will be.

Smudging

➢ We smudge to clear the air around us.

➢ We smudge to clean our minds so that we will have good thoughts of others.

➢ We smudge our eyes so that we will only see the good in others.

➢ We smudge our ears so that we will only listen to positive things about others.

➢ We smudge our mouths so that we will only speak of well of others.

➢ We smudge our whole being, so we will portray only the good part of our self through our actions.

The Metis Sash

One of the most prominent symbol of the Métis Nation is the brightly coloured, woven sash. In the days of the voyageur, the sash was both a colourful and festive item of clothing and an important tool worn by the hardy tradesmen. Doubling as a rope when needed, the sash served as a key holder, first aid kit, washcloth, towel, and as an emergency bridle and saddle blanket. Its fringed ends could become a sewing kit when the Métis were on the land. The art of sash weaving was brought to the western regions of Canada by Voyageurs who encountered the bright ‘scarves’ through contact with French Canadians.

Fiddle Music

The fiddle has figured prominently in the lifestyle of the Métis people for hundreds of years. It is the primary instrument for accompanying the Métis jig. The famous ‘Red River Jig’ has become the centre piece of Métis music. Since this European instrument was exceedingly expensive in early Canada, especially for grassroots Métis communities, many craftsmen learned how to make their own. The fiddle is still in use today and plays a prominent role in celebrations as a symbol of our early beginnings and the joyful spirit in which we lived and grew. Fiddle and jigging contests are always popular events and provide an opportunity to showcase the fiddle as a symbol of Métis nationhood and pride.