Ashley Munro – Red Sash Beaded Headband

My name is Ashley, a proud Red River Mètis with roots from Birch River and St. Laurent MB. I was born in Winnipeg and raised here, as well as in Calgary AB. I now reside in St. Laurent MB with my 18-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter. I have always enjoyed crafting and learning new projects. Beading and embroidery came to me through the St. Laurent Aboriginal HeadStart Program. One of the activities the center holds for parents of attending children was embroidering Christmas stocking and making moccasins. I struggled with the beading, so it gave me a challenge. I kept trying and find tutorials to help me get the outcome I was looking for. Now, I can't put down and thread. I have started to incorporate the beads with the embroidery to make items more, unique! Finding items around the house to add the Metis Sash pattern and colors to, is also fun. Everything I have done aside from the basic; thread and needle and bead instruction, is all self-taught. My father beaded when he was younger, but he gave it up to raise his family. In a way I see myself continuing, what he started. Both my Grandma and Memere also used a needle and thread to sew, patch and make things pretty with what they had. I find colors that I like, from TV, a picture,  Facebook, a t-shirt or even from a toy in my daughters toybox and just put it together. Everything I do is done as I go. I could always make patterns and use them; however, I think doing it this way, makes it unique, to me.  I am now working on earrings and beaded rings; however, those are still in the learning process. Mètis people are known as the flower beadwork people. I want to continue to learn more to keep this part of our culture alive for the next generation, as I now teach my daughter to bead and embroider. One day she will be awesome at color coordination, but until then I will enjoy watching her make mix-matched bracelets and key chains for her family.