Haŋ, mitákuyepi na čhaŋté waštéya napé čhiyuzapi. Keely Eagleshield emačíyapi. Ínyaŋ Woslál Hé oyáte emátaŋhaŋ Matȟó Akíčhita yaú na Wakpá Ipákšaŋ él wathí kštó.

Hello everyone, I welcome you. My name is Keely Eagleshield. I’m a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. I grew up in McLaughlin and now currently live in the Dakota territories near Flandreau, South Dakota.

I am a full-time beadworker whose (as humbly as I can say) work has traveled across the country and even gone international! (Germany, Brazil, and Sweden) I originally graduated from South Dakota State University with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, planning to pursue a career in the environmental sector. However, my passions have always been for the arts and embracing my culture.

Growing up on the Standing Rock reservation, I always dreamed of being able to make a positive impact on the world regarding my culture on a large platform, and my beadwork allows me to do just that. I hope that my work can honor my culture and that as I continue to grow, I can inspire other indigenous people like me to know that it’s possible to pursue your passions, but also to connect non-indigenous people with real history and information about indigenous cultures and traditions. My intricate designs not only showcase the rich heritage of indigenous cultures but also incorporate elements of sustainability and environmental consciousness.

I strive to advocate for the intersection of art, culture, and environmental awareness. I try to incorporate eco-friendly materials into my beadwork, specifically working with only glass seed beads as glass is infinitely reusable. However, like many other beadworkers, I use durable nylon thread and pellon often, though I don’t like to. Therefore, I continue to research and incorporate biodegradable alternatives in my work and steer clear of certain art forms such as resin, epoxy, and 3D printer art. My hope is not only to create beautiful pieces but also to raise awareness about the importance of preserving the environment and indigenous cultures.

As for my goals in the future, I hope to feature my work in art galleries, cultural exhibitions, and fashion shows, providing a platform to share the stories and traditions of my community with a global audience. I envision establishing a beadwork and art community center where various artists can showcase their work, art, and supplies can be purchased ethically and morally, and hold workshops and mentorship programs to pass on my skills to younger generations.

In my ongoing pursuit of both artistic expression and cultural representation, I remain rooted in South Dakota, drawing inspiration from my past and present experiences growing up on and off of the reservation. I hope that you can support me in some way, whether it’s purchasing work from me or supporting me through social media. All I really hope for is that by following me on my journey, we can all learn to decolonize, heal from traumas, grow as people, and find peace in knowing we left this world better for future generations.

Pilamaya!

Thank you!