Boozhoo, Nijii Bimadizg my name is Monica Nellie Brown. Ziggy Poon Benese Nindizinkaaz I was born and raised in California moved to Montana as a freshman in high school, I was brought up on the powwow trail, traveling across the United States and into Canada with my family. I have danced since I could walk, rooted in the songs, regalia, and teachings of my  people. These experiences shaped my deep commitment to honoring and preserving Indigenous culture. Today, Happily Married and a Mother of a wild little Indian boy, I continue that legacy through teaching, beadwork, and community engagement — ensuring that tradition remains visible, vibrant, and alive. I carry the teachings of my Bear and Turtle clans, which guide me in strength, protection, wisdom, and responsibility. Beading is more than art to me — it is living culture. It carries the stories of my ancestors and continues through our hands today. I teach traditional and contemporary beadwork and crafts rooted in Anishinaabe teachings, identity, and community connection. These classes are offered in gratitude on the homelands of the Blackfeet Nation, Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Chippewa Cree Tribe, and the many Indigenous peoples who have cared for this land since time immemorial. All are welcome who come with respect and a willingness to learn.