Sabastian Koprich is the independent owner of Bearded Beads. He's been beading since the pandemic and crafting since he was a young boy alongside my mémère (grandmother) and childhood friends. He is a proud Métis citizen of the Métis Nation of Ontario, with family roots in the historic Georgian Bay Métis community through the Solomon and Berger/Beaudoin family lines. While he currently lives in Toronto, he returns to Georgian Bay each summer to reconnect with the land. He also carries mixed settler ancestry on his mother’s side from Croatia and Hungary.

He beads and works with hides as an act of resilience and cultural continuity, with the hope of one day passing these teachings on to his brothers and future children. He graduated from Trent University in 2019, and is grateful for the opportunity to continue engaging with the Trent community as an alumnus.

About the Business:

Bearded Beads is a Métis-owned and operated small business offering handcrafted beaded jewelry, leather pouches, and topical oils for skin and hair. The name is a little inside joke among friends, as Sabastian has come across few "bearded" beaders — and yes, he does have a beard most days of the year!

He's facilitated workshops for schools like Trent University and the University of Toronto, as well as for local community councils across Ontario and small working groups. If you’re interested in planning a workshop or collaboration, feel free to connect via email at [email protected] or on Instagram at @bearded.beads.