GRAND RAPIDS, MI - A local Indigenous beader is calling on the West Michigan region to support her community beyond Native American Heritage Month’s 30 days.

Ellie Mitchell, an Anishinaabek member of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan, founded Bead & Powwow Supply in 2011 to “re-Indigenize” the oldest trade on Turtle Island, a term used by many Indigenous tribes to refer to North America.

Although she started as a powwow vendor and online shop, by 2022, she opened her first brick-and-mortar store as a one-stop shop for hundreds of beading supplies.

Mitchell told MLive she will host a ribbon-cutting on Saturday, Nov. 8, at her 5747 28th St. SE shop for the launch of her hand embroidery supply section.

“It gives people a reason to come out and visit and hopefully meet other

See Full Page