After school each day, 18-year-old Mercedes Handel from Watson Lake, Yukon, dedicated countless hours to crafting beadwork at her bedroom desk. Her creative space is filled with materials like furs, fabrics, and hides neatly stored under her bed, a beading tray positioned beside her laptop, and storage drawers meticulously organizing her patterns and supplies. Handel, of Tahltan and Kaska descent, recently relocated to Edmonton to pursue a dual degree in Native Studies and Environmental and Conservation Sciences at the University of Alberta. In a conversation with CBC, she shared how beadwork would continue to be a guiding force in her life while away from home.
Handel delved into beading in December 2023, initially inspired by creating a pop socket as a Christmas gift for her grandmother. She absorbed the art form through exposure in school and her upbringing, with her aunt providing the necessary beading supplies. The hobby quickly evolved into a passion, leading her to continually hone her skills and explore freehand designs beyond her initial projects involving cabs and shells.
Beading has become an integral part of Handel’s daily routine, with dedicated time set aside after school and even during social outings and travels. What began as a personal hobby eventually transitioned into a form of entrepreneurship, although Handel prefers not to perceive it strictly as a business endeavor. For her, beading serves as a profound connection to her heritage, offering a means to stay rooted in her culture and potentially pass down this tradition to future generations.
Financially, selling her beadwork has provided substantial support, allowing Handel to forego summer employment to focus on her craft. As she embarks on her academic journey in Edmonton, she plans to continue leveraging her beadwork for financial stability, intending to sporadically offer items for sale when time permits. Despite the physical distance from her community due to her educational pursuits, Handel sees her beadwork as a vital link that will help maintain her connections with familiar faces and traditions from her hometown.
While Handel does not envision pursuing beading as a full-time occupation, she is adamant that it will remain an enduring presence in her life. The art form not only serves as a creative outlet but also as a cultural anchor that keeps her firmly connected to her roots, ensuring that her heritage remains an integral part of her identity as she navigates the opportunities that lie ahead.