A Swan River First Nation band member, Emily grew up on Epekwitk and now resides in Summerside.  She began making jewelry from vintage pieces at the young age of 18.  It wasn’t until 2020, however, that the Cree artisan began specializing in beaded jewelry and accessories. 

Emily credits the opportunity to travel as part of her job with the Mi’kmaq Family Resource Centre as a turning point in her jewelry-making journey. Her work took her to different Indigenous communities across Canada, and she found herself constantly drawn to the beadwork of local Indigenous artisans. 

Inspired by the ever-growing collection of beaded pieces she purchased during her travels, Emily decided to try her hand at beading jewelry and fell in love with the craft. Over the past three years, the self-taught jewelry maker has created an array of unique accessories, including earrings, necklaces, bracelets, sun catchers, keychains, and hairpieces.  She finds inspiration in nature and is very drawn to flowers and hummingbirds, which hold deep significance in her Cree culture.

One of the biggest challenges Emily has encountered as she transitioned to beadwork is sourcing raw materials. In addition to beads, Emily’s jewelry pieces also feature hides, bones, gemstones, and other elements. With a commitment to sourcing from other Indigenous businesses, Emily has spent the past three years building connections with suppliers while simultaneously honing her craft.  

As the child of a 60s scoop survivor, Emily was not immersed in her Indigenous culture growing up. Now, she is reconnecting to her Cree roots through her beadwork and finds inspiration in being able to introduce her two children to their Indigenous culture through her craft. Teaching her own kids and other kids in the community about the art of beadwork is, in fact, the greatest reward for Emily. She also finds motivation in the generous feedback she receives from customers.