The Beaded Path Indigenous Beading Circle
Online Using Zoom
Biweekly Thursday evenings, February 27 to June 19th, 2025
7:00–9:00 PM
FREE | REGISTRATION LINK COMING SOON
The Beaded Path (formerly BYOBeads) is an Indigenous-led Beading Circle led by Mel Bartel, a talented Toronto-based, 2 Spirit, Nishinaabe artist whose work lives at the intersection of colourful abstract art and traditional Anishinaabe beadwork. The Beaded Path is a no-cost online space where creative people from across Turtle Island can sit together chatting, laughing, and sharing our experiences while beading and creating together. Whether you are a full or part-time bead artist, or someone who is interested in beading, we welcome you to join us. This space is hosted by East End Arts with support from Native Women in the Arts. The 2025 season will welcome an exciting list of talented Indigenous artists who will share their work, skills, and stories. Come and be inspired by the artistry, and bring questions that you’d like to ask. Scroll down to learn more about this season’s Guest Artists.
We hope to see you online!
NOTE: Sensitive and/or mature content may come up in The Beaded Path program. If at any time you feel unsafe or uncomfortable, or if you require support, please let the facilitator Mel Bartel or any of the East End Arts staff know and we will be more than happy to assist you.
ABOUT THE FACILITATOR:
MEL BARTEL: Toronto-based Nishinaabe artist Mel Bartel believes that all art is healing and therapeutic. It doesn’t matter if you are viewing it or creating it, the effects are the same.
She is known for her expressive and intuitive ability to capture emotion, personality and spirit. Her mediums are acrylic paint on wood cradled birch panels and bead work. She studied Art and Graphic Design at Claude Watson School of the Arts, George Brown College and briefly at Ontario College of Art & Design.
Mel grew up as a child in the Manitoba prairies and was raised by a Mennonite family. She is Sixties Scoop and her home community is Lac Seul First Nation.
Her Nishinaabe name is Nendowaaamjiget which means Seeker. This name is particularly fitting for Mel as it seems she has been seeking most of her life – for identity, her culture, her place in the world. She is a member of the Wolf Clan.
Following a successful period as Graphic Designer for Loblaw Brands Company designing President’s Choice product packaging, she has returned to expressive art as her primary focus.
UPCOMING BEADING NIGHTS:
- Thursday February 27, 2025 – 7:00-9:00 PM | “Beading is Medicine”, Stay Tuned for Guest Artist
- Thursday March 13, 2025 – 7:00-9:00 PM | Open Discussion Beading Session, no Guest Artist
- Thursday March 27, 2025 – 7:00-9:00 PM | “Harvesting Quills and Quillwork”, Stay Tuned for Guest Artist
- Thursday April 10, 2025 – 7:00-9:00 PM | “Beading Business 101”, Stay Tuned for Guest Artist
- Thursday April 24, 2025 – 7:00-9:00 PM | “History of Beading/Antique Bead Sourcing”, Stay Tuned for Guest Artist
- Thursday May 8, 2025 – 7:00-9:00 PM | Open Discussion Beading Session, no Guest Artist
- Thursday May 22, 2025 – 7:00-9:00 PM | “Selling at Markets and Powwows”, Stay Tuned for Guest Artist
- Thursday June 5, 2025 – 7:00-9:00 PM | “Harvesting and Preparing Hides”, Stay Tuned for Guest Artist
- Thursday June 19, 2025 – 7:00-9:00 PM | “Teaching Beading – Continuing the Traditions”, Stay Tuned for Guest Artist
REGISTER:
Be sure to register for The Beaded Path by visiting our registration link below:
CIRCLE SCHEDULE:
The Beaded Path is a very casual vibe, but for those of you looking for a bit of structure this is the approximate schedule for the evening:
7:00-7:05 – Ease into Space
7:05-7:20 – Welcome, Introductions, & Show & Tell
7:20-8:00 – Conversation with Guest Artist
8:00-8:50 – Open Discussion and Beading Time
8:50-9:00 – Closing Thoughts & Goodbye
A note to settlers interested in attending The Beaded Path:
1) This is primarily an Indigenous circle, which is open for non-Indigenous folks to attend. Please don’t ask questions about culture, history, or politics. Lots of folk come here to unwind, and your questions are likely loaded in ways you may not understand. Hang out, listen, laugh, and be mindful of not taking up too much space.
2) If you are a settler looking to learn about beading, we strongly encourage you to seek out artists who offer workshops and classes, or who have made videos teaching – or heck, you could just offer somebody whose work you admire money to share what they know with you. The worst that could happen is that they say no, and one of the easiest ways that we can be allies is with our dollars.
This is a space that strives to be inclusive of all identities, but we don’t always get it right. Let us know if we can do anything to bring you in.
2025 GUEST ARTISTS:
Stay tuned for headshots and bios soon!
PAST GUEST ARTISTS:
Visit our 2024 BYOBeads page or our 2021 BYOBeads page to check out the past guest stars we’ve welcomed to this program!
FUNDERS:
A big thanks to Native Women in the Arts for continuing to fund this program!
