My names Joni and I love to bead! I have been beading for over twenty years. It all started with me “looking bored” at the kitchen table. My mom took me to the closest bead store and then taught me the basics. Beadwork, my culture, my family, and the occasional encouragement have been the four constants in my life. Without any of that, I wouldn't be where I am today.

I’m half Native American on my mothers side. My tribes are Nakoda, Aaniiih, and Apsaalooke. I am also an enrolled tribal member at Ft. Belknap Indian Reservation in Montana. Although I was born in Montana, I have been an Oregon girl since 1997.

When you purchase a piece of my work, you are buying an item that is traditionally made. I am able to sell my work and claim it as authentic because it is protected under the 1990 “Indian Arts and Crafts Act”. My main goal with my beadwork is to make sure that when people purchase a piece or take a class, they are getting a product that is genuinely created.