First annual Minneapolis American Indian Center market celebrates Indigenous art [Video]

MINNEAPOLIS — For generations, colorful beadwork has been a part of Native American culture. 

Wendy Roy’s grandmother taught her the traditional art form at the age of 8. “I might slow down some, but I don’t think I’ll retire,” Wendy Roy, now 62, said as she laughed.

“Now I teach, so I feel like I’m just kind of continuing the tradition,” Roy, who started her business Ojibwe Custom Beadwork 25 years ago, explained. She teaches beadwork at White Earth Tribal & Community College. “When my grandma passed, there were over 100 people that she had taught how to bead, and only three of us still beaded. That’s when I decided to start teaching because I thought, ‘Oh no, it’s going to die out.'”

Roy was one of more than 30 artists and vendors featured …