Inuvik-born artist returns to Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival

Mishelle Lavoie is retracing her steps — and that’s a good thing.

The Inuvik-born artist is no stranger to the Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival — having held a table at the Toronto show last year. The Victoria-based mother of one said she was eager to showcase her work through her business Capital M beading.

“I had applied back in 2023 and was hoping they would have selected me again, and they did,” she said. “It’s all coming together now.

“It was a good feeling. I guess if they asked me to come back, they saw something in my work.”

Beading runs in her family, though Lavoie admitted she didn’t pick it up at until she was a young adult. But she remembered her mother beading as a child and was able to teach herself the basics.

Balancing her beadwork with pursuing a degree has not been easy, but Lavoie has focused on the Peyote stitch style of earring since 2019.

Her strategy has paid off, with her jewellery being sold across the country.

“My mom did it, we saw her working on it,” she said. “She was trying to teach us, to her five daughters, but none of us were really interested. But then one day I decided to give it a try and I’ve been going since then.

“I like to design a lot of things. I have a sketchbook full of stuff, but I’m just sticking to beading right now. I already have the technique down. I’m a student at University of Victoria, so I don’t always have time to learn new things when it comes to my hobbies and interests. Once I have more time I will start making other products.”

For Lavoie, beading provides a sort of meditation, a fun activity to do while watching television or other forms of relaxation. She said she would love to be able to teach others how to do beadwork to help people in small communities work through trauma.

She expressed her thanks to her family and community for their support and to the department of Industry, Tourism and Investment for covering her expenses for the festival.

“It is pretty exciting,” she said. “I’d like to thank ITI for granting me funds to go and thanks for all the community support I’ve had. All the people who have been liking and sharing my posts, and my family for helping me to. Last time I went they were a big help with child care and helping me get there.

“It takes a community.”

The 2024 Indigenous Fashion Arts festival runs May 30 to June 2.