“Susan Shatreau-Janisky Featured in April 2025 at Village Gallery of Local Artists”

Metis artist Susan Shatreau-Janisky will be the featured artist at the Village Gallery of Local Artists during the month of April. On Friday evening, April 4^th only, she will offer her rare, specialty collector items that are not normally displayed. These pieces include a beaded Metis fire bag and beaded Metis tobacco bags on native brain tanned deer skin decorated with Czech size 13 cut glass beads. The designs on her bags are traditional Metis Flower designs. She will also bring two framed beaded works with Czech size 13 cut glass beads on chamois.

Native brain tanned leather is hard to come by because it is not processed with commercial chemicals or dyes; the hide is treated with a mixture of brains from the animal and ash. The color is obtained from smoking the hide over a fire with wood. Czech glass beads have been prized by Metis beaders for many years.

Shatreau-Janisky is a Metis of French Canadian, Algonquin, Mohawk and Scottish ancestry and a registered member of the Aboriginal Metis Community of Maniwaki, Quebec, Canada. The Metis people are a distinct Indigenous group; one of the three recognized Aboriginal peoples in Canada, with a rich and complex history. Their origins lie in the intermingling of First Nations peoples and European fur traders in the 17th and 18th centuries, primarily in the regions of Canada and the United States. The Metis people developed a strong collective identity with their own language, customs, and way of life.

Shatreau-Janisky explains; “My Metis ancestry comes from my father’s side and goes back to 1604 French Canadian and Algonquin origins. My great grandfather and his four brothers left Canada and came into Northern New York State around 1869.  My great grandfather was a hunting guide at Saranac Lake New York.”

At the age of 11, Shatreau-Janisky’s Auntie taught her traditional Metis beadwork. She is self-taught in silver and copper jewelry and has been creating leather bags and jewelry for over 50 years.

Born in northern upstate New York Shatreau-Janisky has lived in California and Arizona. She presently resides in Northern Arizona with her husband Michael Janisky.

Shatreau-Janisky’s affiliations are: International Wire Jewelry Guild Artists past director and officer, Sonoran Art League member, Southwestern Premier Artists participating artist, IACA (Indian Arts and Crafts Association) artist member, Sedona Visual Artists Coalition. She has participated in various Native Shows and Pow Wow’s in Oregon, California and Native American Art Shows & Arizona Fine Art Shows. She was the Native American liaison for the Girl Scout Council in California teaching beading at Mini Camps.

Shatreau-Janisky loves her work and sharing it with others. She says; “I am honored when people ask me about my art and of course, when they want to know the history behind the pieces they purchase. I spend a great deal of time doing artwork; nearly 4-6 hours 4-5 times a week.”

A reception will be held for Shatreau-Janisky on Friday, April 4^th from 5-8pm. This is an opportunity to see first-hand the meticulous, hand-made collector items she will bring to the gallery as well as the finely crafted silver, copper and beaded jewelry she normally displays. Refreshments will be served.

The Village Gallery is a co-op style gallery, located at 6512 State Route 179 in the Village of Oak Creek. Applications for new membership are available. For more information, stop by the gallery, call (928) 284-1416, or visit the website at https://sedonalocalartists.com.