Blanche Sam was born to Athabascan and Inupiaq parents from the remote villages of Alatna and Hughes, Alaska, along the Koyukuk River. She was raised in Hughes, Alaska, and grew up with predominantly Athabascan traditions and culture. She is the owner and operator of Brilliant Beads by Blanche, a small business in which she sells her beadwork, mainly earrings. She was taught to bead and sew from her grandmothers at a young age, in a program funded by the school. She is the mother of an amazing toddler, Harper Cadzow.
In 2016, after purchasing several pairs of earrings, Blanche made the decision that she should be making her own. She wanted earrings of a specific style that she could not find. After making a few pairs and posting on social media, she started receiving messages and requests for some of the earrings she had made. Some of her designs were inspired by Alaskan nature, such as the Northern Lights earrings, which is her most popular design.
She has an associate’s degree in Professional Piloting and Applied Accounting, and she is currently studying Art at UAF. Beading is therapeutic to Blanche. It connects her to her culture, her ancestors, and gives her a sense of purpose. It is an outlet for her creativity!