Jerry-Faye Flatt | Beading for a Cause: Alexa Metallic
The Wolastoq Flag. Photo and beadwork by Alexa Metallic.
Mi'kmaq beadwork artist Alexa Metallic is raising money for the Wolastoq Grand Council with a recent piece that illustrates the Wolastoq Flag.
Alexa was trying to figure out how she could help the Grand Council and their efforts in land protection, including their recent actions to protect Mount Carleton. She decided to reach out to Ron Tremblay, the Wolastoq Grand Council Chief, to ask his permission to create a beaded version of the flag.
“I knew it was something that they were working, and I was like, ‘I just want to help,’ because they’re everywhere and they do so much,” said Alexa.
Draw entries for the resulting beadwork are $10, with all proceeds going directly to the Council.
“The Wolastoqiyik Grand Council, they're really focused on protecting the land. And that's really what their intention is, to protect the land for everybody, not just us.”
According to a November 2019 CBC article, the Wolastoq Grand Council appealed a court decision that saw their case dismissed against the Mount Carleton project, where a new lodge, multiple snowmobile trails and fueling station was proposed to be built. The article says members of the Grand Council along with former park manager Jean Louis Deveau believe the project should be stopped, as it threatens the wilderness park and breaks conservation regulations.
Justice Richard Petrie of Court of Queen's Bench “ruled the council is not a recognized Indigenous body and therefore has no right to be consulted or to claim treaty rights in this case,” says the CBC article. The application was later found to have 12 errors, three of which CBC indicates: “didn't recognize the council's ‘public interest standing,’ failed to address the issue of the park's own regulations, and failed to consider how the project would impact the applicants' religious freedom.”
It is unclear if the Wolastoq Grand Council’s appeal has been denied or approved. A Government of New Brunswick press release states the new lodge and fueling station has been built.
“Mount Carleton is a sacred gathering place for Mi’kmaq and Wolastoq people,” said Alexa.
“It’s just a really significant place to Indigenous people in this territory.”
The beaded flag is the biggest piece she’s made so far. It’s outside of her normal use of neutral colours, and focuses on darker reds, blues and yellows with a black edge. The piece even includes the flag’s kiwhos (muskrat). It took her a few months to complete because she didn’t want to touch it when she wasn’t feeling her best.
Up-close beading of the Wolastoq Flag. Photo by Alexa Metallic.
“When you're beading, you're not supposed to do it when you're in a negative space, because you’re putting that medicine into your beadwork. When I started it, I was in a fine space, but then as time went on, I just was going through other things and didn't feel comfortable touching it, because it’s just really important to me and I didn't want to put that kind of energy into it.”
She said she was proud to be finished it so that she’s able to raise money for the Grand Council.
“It’s not just for the Mount Carleton case, it’s just to support them for whatever. Everything they do is fundraised.”
Beading for a Cause
Alexa’s aunt taught her to bead when she was a preteen. They would bead together whenever Alexa would visit. She stopped shortly after learning but picked it up again two years ago when she realized she needed a creative outlet.
“One day I just remember being in my office at work and. . .I follow all these accounts on Instagram, and I saw a piece and I was like, ‘I want to be able to make something that beautiful.’”
Ombré hearts. Beadwork and photo by Alexa Metallic.
Alexa mostly creates earrings, but also makes pins and pendants. She uses a lot of gold and turquoise in her work, as well as neutral colours like white and beige. The light colours and frequent thematic use of flowers and hearts present a warm and summery vibe, as do her delightful interpretations of fruit like strawberries, blueberries and watermelon. You can pick out Alexa’s beadwork amongst others with her recurring placement of gold and turquoise beads, something she hopes will be the signature her work is known for.
Alexa Metallic frequently uses gold and turquoise beads in her work. Beaded earrings and photo by Alexa Metallic.
Alexa’s favourite projects are made for a cause. In addition to the Wolastoq Flag, she has also created Red Dress pins to honour missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and raise money for the Native Women’s Association of Canada. She has also made pins for Orange Shirt Day, a day to commemorate the residential school experience, to honour survivors and their families and to commit to reconciliation.
“I really do enjoy helping people, and I just want to figure out ways that I can do that through beadwork. [I love] the things that bring awareness.”
Orange Shirt Day beadwork and photo by Alexa Metallic.
Missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls pin and photo by Alexa Metallic.
Alexa’s creativity is equally at home when making a charming pair of earrings or a powerful piece that calls for change. Her dedication to raising awareness through her delicate beadwork is moving - she creates a lasting impact on those who see her work, and also on the First Nations communities that she raises money to support.
You can purchase Alexa’s work by going to her Instagram page, @beadworkbyalexa. You can also see the details for buying a draw entry for her Wolastoq Flag piece here, or by visiting her Instagram page.
Jerry-Faye Flatt is a summer reporter for CreatedHere Magazine. She’s a recent St. Thomas University grad who double majored in journalism and communications. Flatt spent her final year at university as the Managing Editor of The Aquinian, STU’s official student newspaper, after working as the Arts Editor in her previous year. When she’s not busy out getting the latest scoop, you can find her playing in bands or driving around in her red 1981 Ford econoline van. If you have a story tip, you can contact her at flatt.jerryfaye@gmail.com.