My Story

Based out of the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana.

Black and white portrait of a young indigenous, Kootenai, woman with long hair, wearing patterned clothing and earrings, looking to the side.

Ki’su’k kyukyit!

(Hello! Good Day.)

My name is Kyla Bronec, and I’m a proud Indigenous artist, U.S. Army veteran, and small business owner. I’m an enrolled Kootenai member from the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana. I have had the privilege of growing up surrounded by the most beautiful mountains and lakes, a large family, and many amazing opportunities that have shaped who I am.

I started beading as a teenager after years of watching my mom and aunties bead. My mom taught me how to bead my very first project, and my dad built my first loom, the same one I still use today. I fell in love with beading instantly. I used to beg my parents to take me to the trading post an hour away on weekends just so I could buy more beads. I was pulling all-nighters, creating amateur pieces to gift family members. I have always viewed beadwork as an act of love. It is a physical representation of hours of my time. Each piece is my way of passing forward the endless amount of love I have received.

My biggest inspiration behind beading is my deep love for my family and the land I was raised on. My style has always been influenced by western fashion, a reflection of my love for rodeo and the western community I grew up around on the rez. Watching my cousins compete decked out in beaded belts, hatbands, and tack of all colors was life-changing for me. It made me realize I could create that kind of work too, beautiful, functional pieces of art, and I’ve been doing it ever since I sold my first custom belt in 2015.

From belts and hatbands to moccasins and hair ties, I want to excel in every form of this art. My biggest goal is to create beadwork that is long-lasting and meaningful to both me and the person it was created for.

Anwunikit

(See you later.)

A female horse rider wearing a green jersey riding a brown horse around a barrel at an indoor arena.
A group of diverse soldiers in camouflage uniforms and tactical gear standing in a forest. They are holding a map, a flag, and smiling, indicating a sense of achievement or teamwork.
A young woman with long brown hair and hoop earrings taking a selfie outdoors on a sunny day, with green grass, trees, and a building in the background.
A young girl with braided hair wearing a white dress and fringed shawl, standing outside near a red tent and white trucks, with forested hills in the background.
A woman riding a bucking horse while chasing a black calf in a rodeo arena with metal fences and banners in the background.
Young woman in graduation gown and stole standing with two older women at a graduation ceremony in a gymnasium, with other attendees in the background.
A woman wearing a Thrasher T-shirt, knee-high sock, and shorts poses with one knee up on a chair, holding a loom, with a dog lying underneath. She has glasses and short hair.
Smiling woman holding a large fish outdoors with green grass and trees in the background, wearing a beige cap with a black logo, a maroon jacket, and jeans.