Esta Bee's art reflects her connection to her Teetl’it Gwich’in roots and her passion for preserving and sharing traditional knowledge and skills. Through her beadwork and paintings, she is able to express her unique perspective and experiences. Having been born in the north and then in childhood moved to the prairies, her paintings and beadwork capture the beauty of both landscapes.
Her dedication to learning and mastering traditional techniques such as beadwork, quillwork, tufting and hide tanning shows her commitment to honoring her ancestors and keeping their traditions alive. By studying the styles of Athabaskan Dene beadwork across the North, she is able to create pieces that are not only beautiful but also culturally significant.
This artistic work serves as a reminder of the rich history and heritage of our ways, while also showcasing the creativity and innovation of contemporary Indigenous artists.
Prints and smaller art are available at the Jasper Artisan Market(Restock just now, end of May 2025) located in Jasper National Park. And a restock for The Makers Keep in the Kingsway and The Grand locations will happen in late Summer of 2025.
I started painting in 2017 in birch and prairie art. And then during the covid years, began an online shop, started doing local events through an Indigenous Collective. In 2023, I started beading and very quickly started hoarding beads, buying hide and working with all the materials. Now in 2025, I am working in recreating our ancestors work in 1900s Gwich’in work, research and still beading my traditional florals, antler and hide beadwork. On the side, I still love to paint, and it’s moved into northern artwork and using different materials with some prairies (will always love the prairies) Mahsi Cho, thank you.
I’m also a stay at home, homeschooling mother of an 11 yr old. So really, just a coffee fueled artisan. Who loves to thrift, meet up for coffee and good conversations.
Esta Baker is a Teetl'it Gwichin, Dene Athabaskan Artisan/Photographer from Yellowknife NWT. She now resides in Treaty 6, Amiskwacyi Waskahikan, Spruce Grove area. Her small business journey was started in 2017. Over the years, she has spent time researching and connecting to create her own style of art and photography. In learning the history, stories, traditional skills and teachings, she has created her own stories and memories that are shared internationally. She thanks everyone for this journey.
She has partnered with the Indigenous Collective in the Edmonton area, has been a guest curator to local galleries and is involved in volunteer work in the Edmonton area. She has partnered with numerous companies and businesses as The University of Alberta Native Studies, Edify Magazine, Edmonton Community Foundations, Goba Care, CPA Alberta and HIV Edmonton as an indigenous photographer. She has worked with Alberta Indigenous Relations, Alberta Chiefs of Police and numerous local businesses in providing art, beadwork and prints. Mahsi Cho, thank you so much!
She is passionate in working to break down barriers for Indigenous artists/creators as well as offering support and mentorship. She has worked with the Edmonton Arts Council and the Alberta Foundation of the Arts as a fine arts jury for grants.
Mahsi Cho, Thank you
2025
Grant Project work, January - June 2025
January, Indigenous Week - University of Alberta
March 7th, Dene Healing Dance, vendor
March, Teaching tutorial at University of Alberta
June - Strathcona Library - Art Tutorial
Ociciwan Indigenous Market, June 7/8th 11 -5 pm, Edmonton AB.
River Cree Summer Night Market - June 20 - 22nd 2025
Strathearn Art Walk - Saturday, September 6th, 2025
Telus World of Science - Sept 30th TBA
River Cree Holiday Market - Nov TBA
2024
Teaching art tutorial at the University of Alberta, March 21, 2024
Grant Accessor with Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Spring 2024
Worked with Goba Care for the K’asho Got’ine Drummers Event, March 8, 2024
Vendor at the Indigenous Week with the University of Alberta
Gallery show with the City of St Albert with Linda Wright June 2024
River Cree Night Market, Enoch Cree Nation June 2024
Live Painting at Folk Fest, Edmonton July 2024
Live painting at Fringe Festival, Edmonton August 2024
Orange Shirt Day, Sept 20th, Telus World of Science 2024
Lake Louise, Oct 25/26th Conference with ARPA
Goba Care, Facilitating Bead circle with Northerners, Nov 20th, 2024
River Cree Holiday Market Nov 21,22,23rd, 2024
SkyDancer Holiday Market, Stony Plain, Nov 30th, 2024
2023
Vendor at Skydancer Indigenous Christmas Market Dec
Strathcona Library, Indigenous Relations Education Day, Panel presenter/art tutorial
Vendor at the River Cree Holiday Market Nov
TELUS World of Science, Orange Shirt Day, Sept 30th
Artwork selected in the Peace hills Trust Indigenous Art Show, Sept
Selected to represent at the Edmonton Elks, Indigenous Celebration Game
Ardrossan Farmers Market, teaching art tutorial and presentation June 6th, 2023
Enbridge Art Show at the Enbridge Centre in Edmonton, June-July 2023
Grant Accessor with Edmonton Foundation of the Arts, April 2023
Selected to be a vendor at the Dreamspeakers Film Fest April 2023
Selected to represent at Junos as a vendor, March 2023
2022
Managed an Indigenous pop up shop at Fort Edmonton Park with Indigenous Collective of Edmonton, July 2022-March 2023
Grande Gathering Gala for the Native Friendship Centre of Grande Prairie in live painting and auction, painting sold for $15,000
An Indigenous Collective art show, guest curator for the Allied Arts Gallery of Spruce Grove 2022
2021
Open Art Competition, Allied Arts Gallery, placed 3rd in Beginners Category
Art was part of a collection at Fort Edmonton Park, with the Indigenous Collective of Edmonton
2020
ATB Alberta Indigenous Online Market, June 2020
2019
Art From the Unknown, Rachel Notley, Old Strathcona Performing Arts Centre Oct 2019
Open Art Competition, Allied Arts Gallery of Spruce Grove, placed 2nd, Sept 2019
A Very Indigenous Holiday Market with the Indigenous Collective of Edmonton
2018
Juried Members Show, Allied Arts Gallery of Spruce Grove 2018
Wild Inside art show, Multicultural Heritage Centre, Stony Plain 2018
2017
Allied Arts Council, Juried Art Show, placed for Northern Beauty submission
Allied Arts Council, placed third in Open Photography Show
Education
Canvas Mukluk Making - Elder Carol - Telus World of Science 2024
Arctic: Development course - University of Alberta 2022
Arctic: Economy course - University of Alberta 2022
Teetl’it Gwich’in Language lessons, online mentorship and resources
Beadwork, learning how to Oct 2022, AC, Dene artisan/educator
Beginner Cree Lessons - Knowledge Keeper Barb, Spruce Grove Library 2022
Acrylic Mountain Workshop - Samantha Williams-Chapelsky 2021
Indigenous Edible and Medicinal Herb - Natalie Pepin, Reskilled Life, 2020
Indigenous Canada Course, University of Alberta 2020
Portrait Drawing Class - Daphane Cote 2020
Acrylic Landscapes Class - Samantha Williams-Chapelsky 2020
Acrylic Landscape, Udemy 2020
Learning to Create an Art Business - Jaime Rathor 2019
Social Media for Artists - Daphane Cote 2019
Photoshop Course, NAIT 2018
Photography Course, Udemy 2018
Night Photography, Udemy 2018
Adobe Lightroom Class, CC Photo, Udemy 2018
Photography Masterclass, Udemy 2018