Photographs are for educational purposes only and are not permitted to be copied or used outside of the ADI website without permission.

Exhibitions
Beading is Medicine:
Métis Tobacco Bags Exhibition
This exhibition featured 13 tobacco bags, created by Métis artists & community members from across BC through the Ministry of Culture, Heritage and Language's Tobacco Bag Workshop Series. The series was taught by Métis artist Lynette LaFontaine. Over the span of several weeks, participants learned how to create their own Métis-style tobacco bag. The bags were showcased at the Amelia Douglas Institute’s gallery space in Surrey, BC.

Artists featured (in alphabetical order): Amber Rattlesnake, Anna Taylor, Brigitte Aubertin, Catherine Ruddell, Carly Nabess, Carly Teillet, Erin Stagg, Kats Klein, Lise Gilles, Lynette LaFontaine, Marlee Paterson, Michelle Douglas, Richard Donnett, and Shyla Elgie-Severeid.
More About Tobacco Bags
Tobacco bags, also known as medicine pouches, served as carriers for not only tobacco, as implied by the name, but also for other precious "traditional" plant medicines.

Métis bags are notable for their form, function and beauty. Métis beadwork artists, primarily women, spend countless hours making functional bags into works of art that were skillfully adorned with beads, often featuring intricate floral patterns. Originally crafted for practical use, these bags became popular trade items, providing Métis women with a means to supplement their family's income. The most stunning beadwork was often gifted to family members and worn with pride.

We are excited to showcase the beautiful talent of the tobacco bag workshop artists.
Banner Image: Carrie Gabriele, 2023.