Zhawenjige Beadwork

‼️NEXT MARKET🚨
i wanna tell yalls a lil story.
PRFM London got me STARTED.
it was their spring market last year that got me in the vending game. i now have space at because of PRFM🙈
so, obviously i am SO HONOURED to be a vendor at an event that’s been happening for a whole DECADE!! chi-miigwetch for the opportunities yalls have given me!❤️

boozhoo friends. let me introduce you to my dad, george shawana. an anishinaabe man of the eagle clan, he made an impact on so many peoples lives. like many residential school survivors, his life included drugs and alcohol. but he got sober and started living as traditionally as he could. we were not on speaking terms when this incredible life shift happened. i regret that.

we reconnected almost 10 years ago. he taught me about tribes, clans, medicine and the grandfather drum when we had our first conversation in over 5 years back in 2015. i remember wanting to write down every word, but also remembered some teachings from elders here in SW ontario who told me, we are people from oral traditions. so i just listened to his words and the sound of his voice. there isnt anything i wouldnt sacrifice to hear his voice again.

i’ll save the monologue for my facebook post, but i wanted to share the following with my beadwork friends:

george shawana was my father. if you are from the island, you may have heard about the fatal roof collapse at the south bay center. my father was the casualty. his loss was extremely sudden and unimaginably devastating.

he was an incredible man. i am so honoured to be able to call him my father. i look back and mourn the relationship that distance took from us. i look forward and mourn the relationship that this horrific accident took from us. he wasn’t yet walking the traditional path when me and my siblings were young, but i saw the way his lifestyle impacted my neices, his grandchildren. i was so excited to give him another grandchild to funnel his endless love towards; a grandchild he could guide through their indigenous pathway of this crazy ass world.

baamaapii. gizaagin. chi-miigwetch for everything you were able to do for me earth-side. i’ll miss your physical presence forever but i will carry the energy of your spirit in every step i take.

https://www.manitoulin.com/roof-collapse-clams-life-of-well-known-wiikwemkoong-knowledge-keeper/

❤️my next market🌹
boozhoo everyone! i’m so happy to announce my first market of 2026: the 2nd annual Love & Local Market, hosted by 🫶🏼
on valentine’s day, saturday february 14, bring your love to the Hellenic Community Center to check out some incredible love/themed goodies by 80+ local vendors, including ✨yours truly✨ who is working dilligently on lots of heart shaped products🩷
i can’t wait to see you all there!

☮️my earrings are on national TV❤️
boozhoo friends! i can finally reveal one of my absolute favourite projects of 2025; earrings for the entrance look of london queen on season 6! let me tell you, this premiere episodes was literally one of the best across the entire drag race franchise🤭
i was honoured to be asked to make earrings for her entrance look. a turtle island baddie from mexico, OF COURSE i’ll help create a look!👀 here’s a little view into the process. dulce trusted me to try a new technique and the result was a blingy fringe that i am so proud of!
i can’t wait to watch the first london queen on the canada’s mainstage of drag, i highly recommend everyone watch season 6 on crave🫶🏼

‼️UPCOMING MARKET🚨
boozhoo friends! i am once again a vendor with for this year’s holiday market!
🗓️Nov. 16, 11-4
📍Centennial Hall, 550 Wellington St. London ON
my items would be a perfect addition to a holiday stocking or as a small gift for family, friends, colleagues, etc🤗
hope to see you there!☮️❤️

❤️poppies are coming along🌺
using itty bitty 15s to fill these “forever poppies” as my grammy calls them. DM to order yours for indigenous veterans day (november 8) and remembrance day (november 11), $40 + shipping (if outside of london area), pick up options available☮️❤️

‼️market announcement🚨
boozhoo friends! i’m so so happy to share that i have another market coming up very soon!
i’ll be at the Tales and Treasures Book and Craft Fair hosted by on saturday november 8!
i’ll have my usual earrings, keychains, pins and lanyards (perfect for holiday stocking stuffing!), plus poppies in time for remembrance day.

i hope to see you there!☮️❤️

❤️in remembrance

indigenous soldiers stood side by side with canadian soldiers in war efforts, returning home to fight for indigenous rights. we honour all veterans by donning the poppy, growing over the graves of fallen soldiers in the first world war.

this year i’m creating beaded poppies to honour and remember those who have stood for peace and freedom on turtle island and beyond. please DM to receive your beaded poppy for Indigenous Veterans Day (Nov. 8) and Remembrance Day (Nov. 11)

$50 AVAILABLE
ice cream?🍦 floral? 🌸 ice cream floral?
i’m pretty sure these are waaay too cute to care!
another brick stitch pair of earrings are here! i’m working on several patterns and designs, and would LOVE to hear what kind of designs you’d like to see😍 send me a DM? 🙈

🗓️SAVE THE DATE: September 27
boozhoo! i am once again a vendor at 😍
come to dundas place, sept. 27, 11am-4pm to check out some incredible vendors! and maybe purchase some items from your local broke indigenous girlie 💁🏼‍♀️
graphic by