In my twenties, I lived in shared accommodation on the North Shore of Vancouver, British Columbia. The family who cared for the house became dear friends, and Lila became a mentor to me.

Lila is a Métis woman and a gifted beading and First Nations artist. I was blessed to have time with her and to learn from her. She guided me in beading and in making drums, and introduced me to a deeper understanding of the sacredness of working with animals and natural materials.

I was deeply touched by the beauty and intention she brought to everything she made. When I worked with beads, hide, bone, antler and feathers, I felt a connection to something ancient — a wisdom that seemed to live beyond words.

That experience stayed with me.

Over the years, I have continued to explore my own creative lineage, rooted in my Icelandic, Irish and Scottish ancestry. I wonder sometimes if that early experience with Lila opened a door for me — not to one particular tradition, but to a deeper relationship with the elders, stories and earth-based wisdom carried through many ancient cultures.

Today, when I create, I try to listen to what is calling me. Nature, colour, texture, crystals, light and the materials themselves often seem to guide the process.

I hold deep respect and gratitude for what Lila shared with me, and for the influence First Nations and Indigenous peoples have had on my life. I am mindful not to recreate or sell work that directly represents Indigenous art forms or cultural traditions. Instead, I follow my own creative path, allowing my love of Nature and my own ancestral roots to find their expression through what I make.

Perhaps that is what Nature Speaks has always meant to me — listening closely enough to let something beautiful emerge.