City installs beadwork panels at Festival Plaza

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – The City of Fort St. John installed bead panels at the new Festival Plaza on National Indigenous Peoples Day.

The new panels were created using a 3-D scanning of actual beadwork that has been done by the Dane-zaa women from Doig River First Nation. Each of the beads was handstitched to create intricate works of art.

According to a Facebook post from the City, “Beads from a historical perspective played an important role in communicating tribal affiliations and status. The oldest stone bead found locally is over 10,000 years old at Tse’k’wa, a National Historic Site at Charlie Lake.”

These decorative bead techniques are an art form reflecting the discipline, focus, love, and creativity of the women. The skill of beadwork has been passed down through generations as a way to express artistic style and expression.