About us

Guided by Our Gifts: A Journey of Healing and Empowerment

Shekóli Swakweku! (Hello everyone!)

Yakotshanuni niyukyats — my Oneida name is Yakotshanuni. In English, I am Kathleen. I am Bear Clan and proudly Oneida from Oneida Nation of the Thames.

Welcome to my online shop. I’m so glad you’re here — not just to explore my work, but to connect with the vision and purpose that guide me.

My beading journey began over a decade ago during one of the most challenging times in my life. I turned to creating as a way to cope with trauma and loss. At the time, I didn’t yet see myself as confident or capable, but each stitch reminded me that I could rebuild something beautiful from pain.

In 2021, the discovery of the children in unmarked graves at residential schools reopened that grief and deepened my commitment to healing. Picking up my beads again became more than art — it became ceremony, reflection, and remembrance. Through every creation, I honour my ancestors, my family, and the teachings that continue to guide me.

This experience sparked something powerful: a renewed understanding of the gifts I’ve been given and the responsibility to share them with others. My beadwork grew beyond a personal practice into a way to build connections, tell stories, and inspire community.

Today, my dream is to see Indigenous youth across Turtle Island empowered to discover and nurture their own gifts. I’m especially passionate about supporting my home community, Oneida Nation of the Thames, and nearby Nations. By helping youth embrace their creativity, we can build a future rooted in strength, joy, and identity — a future where every person is truly Guided by Their Gifts.

Every piece you find here carries that spirit. Each bead, each pattern, is a reminder of resilience, belonging, and the medicine within creation. When you support this work, you’re helping sustain a vision of healing and empowerment for generations to come.

Yawʌ (Thank you) for walking this journey with me. Together, we are guided by our gifts.