Tous! I’m MiRae

My name is MiRae (she/they), and I’m a two-spirit enrolled member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe. I was born and raised on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. I learned the Indigenous art of beadwork from my elders when I was 17 years old and have nurtured that gift ever since.

Beyond preserving culture through beadwork, my journey is also about fostering empowerment and healing within my community. I am a recovering addict, and I know firsthand that addiction is wiping out generations of Indigenous culture. For the past few years, I’ve dedicated my time to teaching Indigenous relatives in recovery how to bead, and reconnect with our traditional ways. When I teach others to bead, I’m not just passing on a craft—I’m helping them reconnect with their roots, regain a sense of purpose, and find peace in their recovery.

Yellow Bird was my grandfather’s given name, before he was given the colonized name Burt Mark Addison, and I intend to carry on his legacy.

That’s why I named my business after him!

I love sharing my artwork and spreading appreciation for my culture, and I will continue to do what I can to keep my family’s legacy and traditions alive.

Beadwork has a rhythm that mirrors life—a reminder that, even when threads tangle or beads fall, we can still create something beautiful. The stories we weave into our pieces remind me that beadwork is not only creative expression but also a bridge between the past and future, a tool for healing, and a means to reclaim our identity as Northern Arapaho people.

Every piece I create or help someone else create carries a story, a memory, and hope. That’s why I pour my heart into every design and cherish every opportunity to teach. Together, through creativity and connection, we can keep our traditions vibrant and help each other heal.

You can find me on Instagram (@yellowbird.beadwork), Facebook, and through the Wind River Artist Collective.