Trish Auger has been beading for more than 20 years. (submitted photo/Trish Auger)

By Nicole Reis

Indigenous Artwork

Local artist promotes traditional beadwork

Nov 19, 2019 | 9:00 AM

Trish Auger has been creating beadwork for nearly 20 years.

Beading is a traditional Indigenous art form that is typically passed down through generations, but Auger’s story is different; her family’s beading history starts with her.

Auger got her start at a community school class in La Ronge taught by the late Elder Ida Tremblay.

“Ida taught lots of people to bead and I was lucky to be in one of her classes. I started there and just loved it,” she said. “The very first time I beaded in that class, I just loved and couldn’t quit after that.”

Trish Auger beading has been sold to clients internationally. (submitted photo/Trish Auger)

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Some of the items she creates are more traditional in the way of moccasins, shawls and mitts but she also touches on contemporary art work, beading sports logos, cartoon characters and names.

Beading has been a significant part of Indigenous culture for more than 8,000 years. The first beads were made out of shell, pearl, bone, teeth and stones. Today, Auger uses plastic beads, leather and cow hide and gets most of her materials from Ol’ Lodgeskins, a local retailer in Air Ronge.

“It only takes me two to three days to make a pair of moccasins. People tell me they’re amazed,” she said.

The intricate beadwork is not a common skill according to Auger. She says there may be only four to five skilled artists in the La Ronge region. Some of her work has been sold as far away as Japan, Brazil and even New York.

“Often people have asked me to teach them how to bead and they’ve come into my home. The Town of La Ronge approached me and asked if I could teach a class. This would be my second class,” Auger said.

Auger will teach the students how to make mitts at Churchill Community High School on Nov. 25. She said the classes tend to fill up quickly with people of varying ages but she’s happy to have the opportunity to pass along tradition by teaching to the community.

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nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

@nicolereis7722