Kwey! I'm Shayna
from Bilijk, NB, along the Wolastoq. I am the proud owner of Skoden Hair Ties & Amakehs Designs (named after my daughter Amakehs ‘Pisuni Nehsewon’ Louise: Medicine breath of life: one who heals our breath of life for our first language)
My journey with ribbon skirts began in 2019, when I attended a ribbon skirt class taught by a fellow community member. That experience then sparked my passion. However, it wasn't until the birth of my daughter in 2022 that I truly embraced this craft. This is when my most popular item “The Overall Ribbon Dress” flourished!
Growing up, I didn't know much about my culture, but now, I'm dedicated to ensuring my daughter understands and cherishes her heritage. Through Amakehs Designs, I create each order with the hope that she, and others, will be proud of who they are and recognize the strength and beauty of our traditions. I see my work is a celebration of identity, resilience, and cultural pride.
POW WOW Pitch
I’ve done 3 POW WOW Pitches! The first was for Skoden Hair Ties, where I took 3rd place and won $1000. Then, I did an online pitch and landed the ARTIZA grant for $2500, which helped me buy my very first industrial sewing machine! & In-person pitch in Neqotkuk, NB where I stood beside other amazing small Indigenous businesses
Veronica Atwin
It’s a powerful journey, connecting with your culture and discovering the roots of your creativity. I’ve always been told I have my grandmother Anita Sacobie’s hands—a beader with a spirit that flows through me. And I sew like my Aunt Sheila Brooks, who held this passion so deeply that it’s now the same fire within me.Both sides of my family, Sacobie and Atwin, carried in my blood, weaving together the ability to bead, sew, and perhaps, something more. I’ve yet to try basket-making, but the trees, their roots, and the ancient process of crafting baskets call to me, as though the earth itself is reminding me of a tradition still waiting to be claimed.I got this tattooed for my great-grandmother, Veronica Atwin, who I never had the chance to meet but would have loved to sit with—to learn from her wisdom, to analyze her teachings, and to carry them forward for my daughter. I’m grateful there’s a video of her, and I remember doing a heritage project about her in middle school. But there’s a sadness there, too, because at the time, I wasn’t as connected to my culture. I was scared to show who I really was. Now, I realize how much I missed out on then, and I’m reclaiming it for myself and for the future.It’s a healing process, finding my way back to what’s always been mine
.https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4xMXTR1ohMw