I am a Mi’gmaw mother, sister, auntie, artist, activist, caretaker of the land & waters, and writer, consultant, but I want this introduction to focus on my artist expressions. These expressions of art include but are not limited to basketry, beadwork, sewing, quillwork, and designing. As a child, I use to pick sweetgrass, strawberries, blueberries and hazelnuts, with my mother, grandmother and aunties. I learned how to braid sweetgrass, make black ash fancy baskets, and beading at a young age when I lived in Gesgapegiag, this was part of the curriculum. Additionally, during my youth I learned how to dye and make art with porcupine quills, beads, and copper in my culture class in Listuguj.

During my university studies at St. Thomas University, I enrolled in art classes to explore other forms of art such as sculpting, painting, drawing, and so forth. I graduated with a minor in fine arts at St. Thomas University. Also, at this time I started to develop my beading business. It started as a side hustle, mostly selling my artwork to students, professors, and family and friends on my personal Facebook. Since then I created my beading page on Instagram @ instagram.com/militaw_designs, TikTok page – https://www.tiktok.com/@militawdesigns?_t=8k8T8BjsXkT&_r=1, and newly made website. My beading business has been operating since 2010. However, since graduating from university, I have been focusing on professional development of my businesses by expanding my knowledge and reconnecting to Indigenous Art into my business. For example, I learned how to sew 5 years ago and started making ribbon skirts & shirts, and regalia’s 3 years ago. I never stopped making baskets, I did not think of making and selling baskets until I moved back home when I started to become more involved in making and selling baskets. Making baskets has been in my family for generations, I will be teaching my children these teachings when they are old enough, along with other people who want to learn.

Today, I make and sell fancy custom black ash baskets, along with custom beadwork, regalia, ribbon skirts and shirts. In summer 2024, I will be posting a new line of beaded earrings, ribbon skirts, shirts, baskets, and regalia’s for sale on my website. Until then, you can browse the shop on previously made items or contact me for custom orders.