About this tour
When Alex from our team joined Savannah LeCornu's beading class in Ketchikan, we walked into a two-hour session that felt more like a conversation than a craft workshop. Savannah, a Tsimshian, Haida, and Nimiipuu artist, teaches beading as storytelling—each piece you make carries cultural meaning from her northern coastal and plateau traditions. The space is relaxed, the materials are all sorted for you, and there's an Alaskan charcuterie board and your drink of choice to keep you going. It's the kind of class where you leave with both a handmade piece and a clearer sense of why Indigenous art matters right now.
Highlights
- Beading taught as storytelling, not just technique
- Savannah combines northern coastal and plateau art traditions
- Alaskan charcuterie board and drink included throughout
- All materials provided, no prep or supply hunting needed
- Fully accessible venue with zero fitness barriers
- Two hours feels unhurried, lets you actually absorb the work
- Contemporary Indigenous perspectives woven into every conversation
- Leaves you with a finished piece you genuinely made
What to expect
You'll arrive at a welcoming, accessible space where Savannah greets you with the charcuterie board already laid out. The first bit is conversational—she talks through her background across three nations and how that shapes her work, then walks you through the beading basics without making it intimidating. Materials are pre-sorted and within reach. From there, you're beading. The pace is deliberate: Savannah circulates, offers pointers, and weaves in stories about the patterns and colours you're using. It's not a race to finish something Instagram-ready; it's about understanding the intention behind the piece you're creating.
The two hours move naturally. You're grazing the charcuterie, asking questions, listening to how her work pushes back against stereotypes of Indigenous art and artists. By the end, you've got a beaded piece that's unmistakably yours, and you've heard directly from someone making contemporary art rooted in real cultural practice. It's intimate without feeling exclusive—everyone leaves as a maker, not a tourist.
Good to know
This works for anyone curious about Indigenous art practice beyond museum glass. Savannah's approach is genuinely educational—you're learning technique and cultural context in the same breath. The accessibility is thorough: wheelchair access throughout, strollers welcome, no fitness requirements. The food's a nice touch, and the smaller group size means real interaction. Perfect for solo travellers, pairs, or anyone wanting something more thoughtful than a typical craft class.
If you're after a quick souvenir or expect a polished, gallery-quality finished piece, reset that expectation—this is hands-on learning, and your beadwork will reflect that. Two hours is snug, so if you're slow with detail work or want to complete something massive, you might feel rushed near the end. Group size isn't specified, so peak times could mean less one-on-one attention.
Bring nothing—all materials and snacks are sorted. Wear something you don't mind small beads potentially touching. The class is fully wheelchair accessible, pram-friendly, and no prior art experience needed. No hidden costs; beading materials and food are included.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.