National Indigenous Peoples Day

SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 2024 8 | NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY Teresa Byrne and Nancy Gouliquer share guidance, history, technique, and patterns with participants week after week. Gouliquer is a long-time volunteer with the MMF, and Byrne is an Indigenous Ways of Life teacher focusing on Métis education in the Winnipeg School Division. They welcome new beaders, share their knowledge, support those who are struggling, and play a major role in creating the undeniable sense of community that permeates the halls. "It's a traditional art form that we hold very high and dear, that's been passed on from generation to generation," says Byrne. "Whether you're Métis, whether you're First Nations, or maybe you're not Indigenous at all, when you're doing beadwork, you're an ally, and you are sharing something that's so dear to us and making it your own." Gouliquer is an important community facilitator teaching advanced stitches such as picot – a type of edging, and has previously led workshops for the MMF on moccasin, mukluk, ribbon shirt, and capot making. "As a Métis, it's a great way to get back in touch with your culture and do something that expresses your culture. I like to inspire people to come and learn beading and to support people who are rediscovering their culture," she says. Byrne echoes those sentiments and explains how beading is an act of reclamation and part of the journey of reconciliation. "Beadwork takes time, so the fact that people are taking the time to do this is so inspiring. It's about walking together with teachers and students of all different backgrounds to learn about our Métis history, culture, and identity. After having our culture taken away, I want everyone here to feel pride in where they come from, to feel comfortable and safe. That's the community that I want to build," she explains. Charlene Dumas, Lesley Parisian, and Carmen Jaarsma have found a great sense of connection and appreciation since they started attending the Flower Beadwork Circle. Dumas had learned to bead before the pandemic and took online classes during lockdowns, but she wanted to learn a flat stitch, which led her to the group where she sought Gouliquer's expertise. "These girls," she says, motioning to Parisian, Jaarsma, and another table-mate, "keep me coming back. Community is such a huge part of it." Jaarsma initially experimented with beading through workshops offered by her employer. When she retired, she wanted to continue, so she contacted the MMF. "There was a class the next day, so I came and had a good time. I've made lots of good friends here," she says. Like Dumas, Jaarsma says the community of the bead group is an antidote for loneliness. She is renowned at bead group for the keychains she makes with patterns cut from leather by her husband and is working towards creating a full-length beaded table runner. For Parisian, beading is a way to connect with her roots. She says she's working on her beading to be able to make moccasins and mukluks and create her own designs. Her favourite teaching is the concept of the spirit bead, an intentionally mislaid bead that serves as a reminder that no one, save the Creator, is perfect. "It's sometimes hard for me to leave that in there, so it's a good reminder that we are human, and we're allowed to make mistakes and learn from them to become stronger." Byrne is working on expanding the Flower Beadwork Circle to other schools in the Winnipeg School Division. The Flower Beadwork Circle held its last gathering before the summer break on June 12th with a potluck. It will start back up again in the fall, visit the Winnipeg School Division website for updates at winnipegsd.ca and learn more about Métis culture, history, and beadwork at mmf.ca. > continued from page 7 " " I LIKE TO INSPIRE PEOPLE TO COME AND LEARN BEADING AND TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WHO ARE REDISCOVERING THEIR CULTURE. – Nancy Gouliquer Carmen Jaarsma, Lesley Parisian, and Charlene Dumas PHOTO BY KRISTIN MARAND IT'S A TRADITIONAL ART FORM THAT WE HOLD VERY HIGH AND DEAR, THAT'S BEEN PASSED ON FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION. " – Teresa Byrne "

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