BIG BEADED BLING Beading Workshop - Cultural Workshop Series for NIPD

Zee Zee Theatre is thrilled to be offering Coast Salish youth-lead cultural workshops on June 14th in recognition of National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day, curated by our Indigenous Community Engagement Manager Alysha Collie. This is her final project with us in this role - SIGH! - so let's make it a big success!

Car Andres, a Coast Salish youth Artist from the q̓ic̓əy̓ First Nation, will start us off in a good way with a traditional welcoming and Indigenous songs. Refreshments of bannock, Coast Salish smoked salmon, jams and Indigenous tea will be offered to welcome all community members into the space.

Alysha Collie, a Coast Salish youth Artist from the Soowahlie Nation, will host the day while facilitating her hands-on ‘Big Beaded Bling’ beading workshop, where community members can celebrate contemporary Indigenous beadwork and our intersectionalities through common appreciation for sparkly earrings. This is also a great opportunity to kick off pride month by updating your pride wardrobe with some new beaded bling!

Come celebrate our intersectionalities by kicking off Indigenous People’s Day, Indigenous History Month and Pride Month with your own new stunning pair of earrings.

Alysha will be facilitating the ‘Big Beaded Bling’ beading workshop in Green Thumb Theatre’s Studio A from 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm. Space is limited to 25 participants. All workshop supplies needed to complete the earrings will be available to participants in a take home kit with a video tutorial to accompany.

If you’d like to participate in this workshop at your own pace in your own space (meaning you will not be attending the workshop in person), please email alysha@zeezeetheatre.ca by June 8th, 2025 to arrange pick up of your beading kit. Up to 5 take home kits will be available for pick up.

This community workshop is open to everyone.

Early sign up tickets are reserved for Indigenous community members.

Tickets for non-Indigenous community members will open on May 23!

We look forward to sharing this day with you and uplifting incredible Coast Salish youth leaders in our community.

Thank you to the sponsors of this day: The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, We Matter, Rise Consulting, and TD.

Event space donated by Green Thumb Theatre.

IMPORTANT:

Participants may only select one workshop per person. Multiple tickets purchased for family, friends or community members must be registered with each person's name. Multiple Eventbrite tickets purchased under the same name will be refunded without prior communication with Zee Zee Theatre staff. Refunds will not be offered otherwise.

Due to the time and resources which the instructors are putting into their workshops, we want to ensure they have a full and robust audience. For that reason there will be a $25 deposit, which will be returned in full with physical cash upon attending your workshop.

If this deposit is a barrier for you please email Alysha@zeezeetheatre.ca or DM Alysha at (@Collie.Collective) on Instagram, and we will happily waive this requirement.

ADDITIONAL EVENT INFORMATION:

• Green Thumb Theatre Studios are fully wheelchair accessible.
• Free Parking is available at Green Thumb Theatre Studios.
• Green Thumb Theatre has gender neutral bathrooms.
• Previous beading experience is a benefit, but not necessary.
• We will be learning the two needle beading method, however you are welcome to use your own method if you prefer the one needle method
• Limited bead colors will be provided. You are welcome to bring your own beads if you have a personal preference.
• Ages recommendation: 13+. There will be a use of strong adhesives, needles, scissors and other sharp metal tools. Caution is advised.
• Unfortunately there will be no childcare available on site. Please plan accordingly
• Masks are not mandatory in this space, and your personal choice to wear or not wear them will be respected
• Space limited to 25 participants. 5 of these kits are available for pick up for folks who are unable to attend in person or who want to complete the earrings in their own space at their own pace. To inquire about one of the take-home kits, please email alysha@zeezeetheatre.ca by June 8th, 2025. They will be offered on a first come first served basis.

ALYSHA COLLIE (SHE/HER)

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR

Alysha Collie is a Coast Salish artist from the Soowahlie First Nation.

She works at 3 Crows Productions as an Indigenous Educational Storyteller and Filmmaker. 3 Crows Productions is dedicated to educating the future generations of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members through presentations, live theatre performances and documentary filmmaking. She also works as the Indigenous Community Engagement Manager at Zee Zee Theatre, a theatre devoted to telling and celebrating stories that amplify voices from the margins, with a focus on 2SLGBTQI+ communities.

Alysha runs her own company called The Collie Collective (@Collie.Collective on Instagram) where she focuses on decolonization and reclaiming her ancestral roots through her beaded jewelry, Salish art and apparel creations.

Over the last 3 years, Alysha in partnership with local theatres, has raised over $4,500 for local Indigenous non-profits who support healing initiatives for the multi-generations that have been affected by the Residential School system in some of the most underserved parts of Vancouver.

When Alysha is not working, you can usually find her creating art beside her cat or nestled in the living room of her grandparent’s house.