The Beaded Path Indigenous Beading Circle
Online Using Zoom
Biweekly Thursday evenings, February 12, 2026 – June 4, 2026
7:00–9:00 PM
FREE | REGISTER HERE
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, and the 2026 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.
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.
P.S. We will be raffling off another $100 Giftcard to BeadFX as part of this season of The Beaded Path! Simply attend at least 5 of our online beading circles, and you’ll be entered to win the gift card! Please note that you must be present at our last beading circle (Thursday June 4) to win the prize (this is when we will randomly draw the winner). We hope to see you all online!
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 12, 2026 – 7:00-9:00 PM – Opening Session (No Guest Artist, Open Circle).
- Thursday February 26, 2026 – 7:00-9:00 PM – Materials Session: Quillwork. Guest Artist: Amber Waboose.
- Thursday March 12, 2026 – 7:00-9:00 PM – Materials and Biz Session: Brand Deals & various mediums. Guest Artist: Mikailah.
- Thursday March 26, 2026 – 7:00-9:00 PM – Material Expert Session: Birch Bark Baskets & Earrings. Guest Artist: Helen Pelletier.
- Thursday April 9, 2026 – 7:00-9:00 PM – Creative Expert Session: Ojibwe Florals. Guestt Artist: Justine Gustafson.
- Thursday April 23, 2026 – 7:00-9:00 PM – Creative and Biz Session: TBD. Stay tuned!
- Thursday May 7, 2026 – 7:00-9:00 PM – Material Expert Session: Birch Bark Biting. Guest Artists: Sally Milne & Christine Myrden.
- Thursday May 21, 2026 – 7:00-9:00 PM – Material & Creative Expert Session: Regalia Making. Guest Artist: R. S. Gustafson.
- Thursday June 4, 2026 – 7:00-9:00 PM – Closing Session (No Guest Artist, Open Circle).
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
2026 GUEST ARTISTS:
Stay tuned for headshots and bios soon!
-
Amber Waboose from Batchawana First Nation
She/her
Instagram: @amberwaboose.ojibwearts
Website: www.amberwaboose.com
Joining us on Thursday February 26, 2026 -
Mikailah from Nimiipuu / Nez Perce Tribe
She/her
Instagram: @beadworkbyMikailah
Website: www.beadworkbymikailah.com
Joining us on Thursday March 12, 2026 -
Helen Pelletier from Fort William First Nation
She/her
Instagram: @Helendawnp
Joining us on Thursday March 26, 2026 -
Justine Gustafson from White Sand First Nation
She/her
Instagram: @j.beadwork
Website: www.jbeadwork.com
Joining us on Thursday April 9, 2026 -
Artist TBC soon!
-
Sally Milne & Christine Myrden
She/her
Facebook: Bitten: BirchBark Designs by Sally Milne
Website: www.etsy.com/shop/BittenBark
Joining us on Thursday May 7, 2026 -
R.S. Gustafson from Whitesand First Nation
She/her
Instagram: @r_s_gustafson
Website: www.rsgustafson.com
Joining us on Thursday May 21, 2026
PAST GUEST ARTISTS:
Visit our 2025 Beaded Path page, our 2024 BYOBeads page, or our 2021 BYOBeads page to check out the past guest stars we’ve welcomed to this program!
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.