Kristi Puszkar knew she was Métis, but wasn’t allowed to celebrate it growing up.
It wasn’t until she moved to Alberta in 2010 that she began to reconnect with her Indigenous background.
“My mother and I connected with a local Elder who mentored us in beading,” says Puszkar.
“When the remains of 215 children were found at the Kamloops Indian Residential School, it really impacted me in a profound way. I used beading as a way to raise awareness and funds for Indigenous and Métis organizations.”
As the owner of Silver and Ivy Beads, Puszkar donates 20 per cent of her product sales to non-profit organizations. She has raised money for the Canadian Red Cross and World Central Kitchen for Ukrainian Refugees, merging her culture and her husband’s, who immigrated to Canada from Ukraine.
Puszkar has also created pins and ribbons for anti-bullying campaigns, Pride Month, the REDress project and various types of cancer.
“The thing about beadwork is it is for everyone. As long as you are supporting an Indigenous person, anyone can wear it,” says Puszkar.
In 2024, Puszkar hopes to sponsor five Indigenous youth to a hide camp so they can learn about their culture and connect with others.
“Kristi’s holistic approach, merging education and philanthropy seamlessly, sets her apart. Her story, of entrepreneurship intertwined with social responsibility, serves as a powerful inspiration,” says nominator and husband, Cam Puszkar.