My name is Toni Gun Shows. I am originally from the Pacific Northwest. Trees and pine cones are suitable for a Dakotah/Wenatchee band/Crow woman such as myself. I am a single mother, artist, tribal educator, and a craft junkie as well. For like most Native people such as myself I have always been interested learning this type of art form that is called bead work. I mostly got my inspiration from my grandma Eleanor Nanamkin and my great grandmother Ernestine Nanamkin. Especially incorporating this skill into our native culture today is extremely important to me. Bead work is a hands-on learning technique that can be self-taught. I have achieved this goal on my own to continue on with making beautiful pieces. And stepping forward to share a piece of my knowledge and hand made items with the rest of the world.
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