"Métis people, we use a lot of colour in our beadwork. We're very colourful people as it is, and so we infuse that into our artwork. We're known as the flower-beadwork people because all of our clothing traditionally was very heavily adorned with these very beautiful, intricate flower patterns."

Amy Briley, a leading Metis traditional beadwork and sewing expert, is our guest on this episode of Paykiiwikay. She and Leah talk about the history and traditions of Metis beadwork, of one of the defining aspects of Métis culture. Amy discusses her own Métis heritage and how she came to be an author and leading educator on Métis sewing traditions through her work at the Gabriel Dumont Institute. She recalls working on her first pair of moccasins, the art of choosing the right moosehide, how to get started in beadwork and why this craft is vitally important to keep alive.

Links to learn more:

WÂPIKWANIY: A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO MÉTIS FLORAL BEADWORK by Amy Briley, Sherry Farrell Racette and Scofield

https://gdins.org/product/wapikwaniy-a-beginners-guide-to-metis-floral-beadwork/

Video: Our Shared Inheritance - Traditional Métis Beadwork. Gabriel Dumont Institute.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GcmH7wnK3c

Paykiiwikay is produced by David McGuffin of Explore Podcast Productions in Ottawa.

Our opening theme music is by Adam Daigneault. The closing theme is by Leah Marie Dorion.