I am crazy about First Nation sewing these days.

My name is Angelica! Welcome to my website showcasing my First Nation and traditional crafts I have created.

My family comes from the Aishihik people of the Yukon Territory. My grandmother is Southern Tutchone First Nation and was a residential school survivor.

First Nations made traditional garments from animals they have hunted. Most of the animals hunted did not go to waste. There was a use for every part of the animal—the hide and fur to be made into shirts, vests, gloves, hats, and slippers. Sinew thread is from the muscles and is used to sew tan hide garments—bones into utensils and weapons. Beads came into the picture when the First Nations started to trade with European settlers. Before, we made beads from Silverberries collected in the summer.

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Beading! Add beadwork to any garment!

I was inquisitive when I was younger, watching my grandmother Evelyn sew. My mother has also sewn and sold her First Nation garments. I picked up a needle and thread and practiced. Since then, I have been making beadwork.

Once I complete these two blue flower patches, I will be sewing them on my husband's traditional vest. Beadwork like this can be made into patches first then sewn on the garment, or you can bead directly onto any garment material.

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These are called Silverberries. They are common around the Yukon Territory. The local First Nations call them Don Jack berries, Stone berries, or in Southern Tutchone, Dän Zhùr. We harvest these berries in the summer to make traditional beads.

Dont miss them this summer! The beads are then cleaned, dried and prepped for threading.

Once the seeds are dried, the seeds are then used for beading into traditional First Nation accessories.

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