Handmade Moccasins Yukon Indigenous Artist Amanda Leas

The Celebration moccasins by Amanda Leas Amanda Leas (Hare) is an Indigenous artist specializing in beaded, wearable art. She is a Tagish Kwan descendant: Southern Tutchone (mother), Han (father) and is a citizen of Ta’an Kwach’an Council and a member of the wolf clan. Largely self-taught, I started beading a few years ago, after my family and I moved home to the Yukon from the Northwest Territories. It started as a hobby, making jewelry with my daughter and just escalated. 6 years later and here we are! Being home in the Yukon, surrounded by my large extended family and lots of time spent on the land gives me inspiration and breathes life into my art. These moccasins are used and have signs of wear as well as a few drops of beeswax on the toe of the left slipper.