Janelle Hager

Janelle Hager is the face behind Gúyát Sóothän. She is a Northern Tutchone Indigenous artist with Tlingit and Choctaw roots. She comes from a line of matriarchal artists, following in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother. She has been creating Indigenous jewelry since 2015. She blends traditional designs with modern concepts, which are seen in her artwork. She is well known for her jewelry, which is often complimented for its clean stitch work and uniformity.

She currently resides in Pelly Crossing, Yukon with her partner and 2 boys. She moved back to the Yukon in 2023 to a slower and more peaceful environment where she can focus on advancing her traditional artwork. She also works to make a positive impact in her community through sharing her knowledge, her positive attitude, and physical fitness. Janelle is quickly becoming known as a community connector. She encourages other artists that reside in her community to step outside their comfort zones by putting themselves out there by sharing their work with the world. She loves to share her tips and tricks whenever asked because traditional knowledge is meant to be shared with others. She is now teaching her youngest child to bead, who is proving to be a natural artist like his mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Janelle has been a part of Adäka Cultural Festival for several years, both as a participant, and as an instructor in workshops. In 2022, she has participated in the Bead, Hide & Fur Symposium and she was one of 50 artists from across Canada selected to showcase one of her pieces at the Bill Reid Art Gallery in Vancouver, BC. You might have seen her work previously sold at events such as Yúke Arts Market, the Adäka Gallery, and at Unorthodox Yukon. Janelle was a recent recipient of the Yukon Government Express Micro-Grant.