President Siddall's Regalia

Beverli Barnes - Regalia

Fashion Designer

“The Robe Lady”, as she is often referred to by her clientele makes her laugh but it’s a title she’s proud of.

After graduating from the prestigious Parsons School of Design in 1982, Beverli worked briefly as a pattern maker for Natori, in New York before returning to her native Vancouver in 1983.

Beverli captured her niche market of custom legal attire in 1993 after a close friend was “called to the bar”, suggesting there was a need for better quality garments, especially for female lawyers & judges.

When Emily Carr became a university in 2008, Barnes approached the administration about designing their regalia. The university was receptive to hiring a local designer. Since then Beverli has designed their regalia including degree scarves for grad students in lieu of graduation gowns.

She went on to design regalia for the Centre of Digital Media and Capilano University.

In 2019, Beverli collaborated with President Gillian Siddall and Emily Carr alumnus Coast Salish artist Xwalacktun (Rick Harry), to incorporate Rick’s C2Sky salmon and eagle repeat design onto the President’s robe. As more Canadian universities looked to incorporate Indigenous artwork onto the President and Chancellor robes, after seeing President Siddall’s robes, Beverli was hired to design robes for Simon Fraser University, Mount Royal University, University of Manitoba and most recently, Lakeside University in Manitoba. Collaborating with regional Indigenous artists who embellish their original art onto the regalia have taken Beverli’s designs to a new level.

Melissa Benson - Sash

Rama First Nation

Aaniin my name is Melissa Benson. I am from Chippewas of Rama First Nation. I have been beading for about 30 years, and was taught loomwork by my mother when I was young. I'm always up for a new challenge, I use eastern woodland ojibway designs when I create. The design in the sash, is a mix of Indigenous flowers and trees and leaves and connects to the roots of our culture. It is important to have good thoughts when creating pieces and it shows in the work.

Daanis Pelletier - Sash

Fort William First Nation

Daanis Pelletier (she/her) is Anishinaabe from Fort William First Nation - an Ojibwe community located on the north shore of Lake Superior in Canada. As a sugar busher, advocate, and young leader, she aims to nourish and protect Indigenous nationhoods through promoting the resurgence of our inherent knowledge and legal systems; language, art, and food sovereignty practices. She is in her second year studying Indigenous Learning and Philosophy with a minor in Music. Daanis expresses her self care, love, values and relationships through her art of beading. Daanis is inspired by the environment, her mom, and her mentors. Her goal is to connect with Indigenous youth that struggle with identity through her art.