Our History
Learn how we got our start in traditional and visionary Indigenous jewelry
Crafting Artisan Jewelry Since 2017
Copper Canoe Woman was founded on the Lummi Reservation on a college student’s dream. Throughout college, Vina beaded jewelry to help support herself throughout her degree. She thought there had to be a more sustainable way to bring her designs to life, so she found one.
Since then, we have grown so much and built so many wonderful connections along the way. We say thank you to each and every one of you, because you have all been a part of our journey to where we are today.
Crafting Artisan Jewelry Since 2019
Copper Canoe Woman was founded on the Lummi Reservation on a college student’s dream. Throughout college, Vina beaded jewelry to help support herself throughout her degree. She thought there had to be a more sustainable way to bring her designs to life, so she found one.
Since then, we have grown so much and built so many wonderful connections along the way. We say thank you to each and every one of you, because you have all been a part of our journey to where we are today.
Our Roots
Indigenous knowledge is passed down in so many wonderful ways; one of those avenues is art. Copper Canoe Woman walks the line of educating about our culture through art, while keeping aspects of our culture sacred.
Our pieces are created to honor and celebrate our culture, and a part of this is family. Family not only inspires the pieces we create, but it inspired Vina to create this business. She comes from a long line of Indigenous artists and innovators.
About Vina Brown
My name is ƛ̓áqvas gḷ́w̓aqs, which loosely translates to ‘Copper Canoe Woman.’ My Goomishwa (English name) is Vina Brown. I grew up in unceded Haíłzaqv territory in so-called Bella Bella, British Columbia, and live on the Lummi reservation in Washington State; I’m a member of the Haíłzaqv Nation and am Nuučaan̓uɫ on my maternal side.
I am a weaver and beader. I first learned to bead, weave, and sew from my aunties and grandmothers and spent a lot of time immersed in the renaissance of the culture and art of ancestors, specifically the painting and carving of Northwest coast formline. My people are very creative and innovative artists!
Making art is my inherent right as an Indigenous human being. It’s part of my cultural continuation— I create to preserve the stories of my ancestors and family, and I’m proud to share that my work has been highlighted on the runways at New York Fashion Week, Santa Fe Indian Market Fashion Show, and Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week, and several local and Indigenous media outlets.
I want my customers to feel empowered when they wear my pieces, with the confidence to get through the day. Thank you for visiting my shop!
Crafting Materials
I use acrylic, abalone, wood, dentalium shell, precious stones, and more in my work, sometimes sourcing abalone and mussel shells from a beach in my territory.
Creative Process
I create while listening to information —I will sketch or bead while sitting in ceremony— as it helps me listen to what knowledge is shared.
Connection to Place and History
I once made over 200 pieces for my family potlatch giveaway while sitting in my graduate school program (Indigenous Jurisprudence and Law).
My name is ƛ̓áqvas gḷ́w̓aqs, which loosely translates to ‘Copper Canoe Woman.’ My Goomishwa (English name) is Vina Brown. I grew up in unceded Haíłzaqv territory in so-called Bella Bella, British Columbia, and live on the Lummi reservation in Washington State. I’m a member of the Haíłzaqv Nation and am Nuučaan̓uɫ on my maternal side.
I am a weaver and beader. I first learned to bead, weave, and sew from my aunties and grandmothers and spent a lot of time immersed in the renaissance of the culture and art of ancestors, specifically the painting and carving of Northwest coast formline. My people are very creative and innovative artists!
Making art is my inherent right as an Indigenous human being. It’s part of my cultural continuation— I create to preserve the stories of my ancestors and family, and I’m proud to share that my work has been highlighted on the runways at New York Fashion Week, Santa Fe Indian Market Fashion Show, and Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week, and several local and Indigenous media outlets.
I want my customers to feel empowered when they wear my pieces, with the confidence to get through the day. Thank you for visiting my shop!
Crafting Materials
I use acrylic, abalone, wood, dentalium shell, precious stones, and more in my work, sometimes sourcing abalone and mussel shells from a beach in my territory.
Creative Process
I create while listening to information —I will sketch or bead while sitting in ceremony— as it helps me listen to what knowledge is shared.
Connection to Place and History
I once made over 200 pieces for my family potlatch giveaway while sitting in my graduate school program (Indigenous Jurisprudence and Law).