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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - As a child, Myra Conrad and her grandma, the late Emerence Beaulieu, used to share afternoons together beading in Fort Resolution.

Conrad would sit on the floor at the foot of her grandma's bed sorting beads while Beaulieu sewed slippers to sell at the local handicraft store. That is where Conrad learned to stitch, create bead art and speak the Chipewyan language.

Myra Conrad recently created this collection of jewelry under her label Bannock N' Tea Styles. - Daron Letts/NNSL photos

"I was very proud of my grandma," Conrad said. "I could see why she beaded. It's very rewarding."

Today, Conrad designs and creates her own beaded jewelry. She creates multi-coloured necklaces, chokers, hair clips, ankle bracelets, earrings, belts and belly chains. She also designs a variety of handmade hide and cloth garments such as vests and ribbon shirts.

Conrad moved to Yellowknife 17 years ago but returned to sewing and beading as an adult while studying computers at Red Deer Community College in the late 1990s. Between classes she performed as a traditional dancer with the Red Deer First Nation Group.

"I found my artistic side while I was on the powwow trail," she said, adding she sewed her own dress, fringed shawl and skin boots to dance in. "I started remembering what my grandma taught me and I used that in my designs."

She began selling her work and filling custom orders about four years ago. She plans to turn her art into an online business under the label Bannock N' Tea Styles. In the meantime, she sells her designs by word of mouth, carrying her display box wherever she goes.

Repeat customer Charmagne Broadhead purchased more than a dozen of Conrad's pieces in recent months.

"You can go to the store and buy a choker but there's no traditional stuff available," Broadhead said. "Myra's jewelry is traditional but you can wear it anywhere. She's bringing her culture back. It's very cool."

Conrad models her own jewelry, often wearing matching sets of hair clips, bracelets and necklaces, while competing in jigging contests or dancing at clubs with her friends.

"My designs are made of beads, sinew, hide and all heart," she said. "When I finish a necklace or some earrings I feel really proud after I see my accomplishment. I'm a very, very proud Dene granddaughter."