Indigenous crafting kits help more people learn the skills, say Manitoba entrepreneurs
CBC News | December 12, 2021
Categories: news
Beading, mukluk- and moccasin-making kits with video tutorials growing popular
Two Indigenous women in Manitoba have built businesses out of helping people learn skills like beading, while also learning about their traditions.
Shawna Spence recently started creating and selling beading kits online. The Peguis First Nation member, who lives in Winnipeg, said she began making them to help more people learn the craft.
"I've had a lot of inquiries from people wanting me to bead for them, whether it be earrings or pieces of regalia, but I work full time and I have children so I don't have a whole lot of time to bead for others," she said.
Spence first attempted to bead about 15 years ago with only verbal instructions, and said it didn't turn out well. However, when the pandemic began she tried again, this time using online tutorials.
"There was a lot of trial and error," Spence said.
"I bought certain beads, but I didn't know how to use them, so I had to go back and try different beads."
That process also got expensive, she said.
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