Jill Ruep is a Métis entrepreneur from Saskatchewan who is redefining how traditional Indigenous art can thrive in the digital age. As the founder of Ma Fii Lii Rasaad —Michif for My Daughter’s Beads —she is developing one of North America’s first Indigenous-led digital platforms dedicated to beadwork design and learning.

In this presentation, Jill shares the story behind her company and how she is blending traditional Indigenous beading with modern technology. Her work brings together cultural knowledge, storytelling, and digital design tools to help users create beadwork patterns while learning the cultural meaning behind them. The platform aims to support youth, educators, and communities who want to reconnect with beadwork traditions but may not have direct access to elders or teachers.

Jill will discuss how her idea evolved from community workshops and beading kits into a growing tech-enabled venture supported by students and developers. She will also explore the bigger vision behind the platform: preserving Indigenous knowledge, empowering creativity, and demonstrating how technology can strengthen—not replace—traditional cultural practices.

This session is a powerful example of Indigenous innovation, showing how culture, entrepreneurship, and digital technology can come together to create new opportunities for learning, creativity, and cultural resilience.