Katrina Mitten (b. 1962) is a celebrated Native American beadwork artist from Huntington, Indiana. A lifelong resident of Indiana and an enrolled member of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, she has spent over five decades perfecting her embroidery-style beadwork—earning national recognition and having her work showcased in major museums across the country.
A Legacy of Survival and Heritage
Mitten’s family history traces back to one of the five Miami families who remained in Indiana after the Indian Removal Act, a time when most Native people were forced west of the Mississippi. This legacy of resilience and survival is woven into her art.
She learned beading at age twelve from her grandmother Josephine, who passed down not only techniques but also the stories and spirit of their people. Today, Mitten continues that lineage by teaching her granddaughter, ensuring that each generation carries the craft forward.
Art as Storytelling
Her creations range from beaded handbags and jewelry to cultural pieces like cradleboards. Influenced by the floral designs of Great Lakes beadwork and the geometric ribbonwork of her people, Mitten blends traditional aesthetics with deeply personal stories. Each piece is both a work of art and a form of storytelling—connecting family memory with cultural identity.
She has also been an active presence at powwows, sharing her artistry and her tribe’s heritage with wider communities.
Collaboration and Recognition
Mitten’s artistry extends beyond beadwork. In 2016, she joined fellow Native artists Katy Strass and Angela Ellsworth to paint a fiberglass bison statue symbolizing state histories and Indigenous presence.
Her impact has also been recognized at the national level: two of her works—MMIW (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women) and Ten Original Clans of the Myaamia—were acquired by the Smithsonian American Art Museum as part of the Renwick Gallery’s 50th Anniversary Campaign. These pieces highlight her ability to honor tradition while also confronting urgent contemporary issues, such as the MMIW crisis.
Carrying Stories Into the Future
Through beadwork, Katrina Mitten continues a powerful legacy of cultural survival, resilience, and artistry. Each stitch is both memory and message—preserving the past while amplifying Native voices today. Her work reminds us that Indigenous art is not just decoration; it is a living archive of history, heritage, and hope.