Laura Asham 

Puppet Maker

Laura Asham is a multi-award winning Blackfoot artist and the founder behind Asham Creations from Siksika Nation, Alberta. In 1993 she launched Asham Creations, where she currently sells beadwork, sewing projects, and puppets. She graduated from Mount Royal College in 2005 with a diploma in Social Work. In 2018, she participated in the Alberta Women Entrepreneurship program to build her business plan and continue pursuing her passion full-time. Her work can be seen locally, nationally, and internationally, with her puppets being her main product. Family is a major value in Laura's life, as she is a proud wife to Dennis Asham Sr. for 32 years. Together, they have three wonderful children; Leigh, Dennis Jr. and Winter-Rose - as well as daughters in law Hayley and Tyra. She is also proud to be a granddaughter to the late Ben Calf Robe, a name and legacy she carries with honour to represent her family in a positive way.

She began beading and sewing at age 7 with her older sister Sheila Frank, a skill passed down to them by their late mother Donna Calf. She began beading as a way to spend time with her mother and siblings, but over the years her hobby became a life-long passion. To make extra money while attending college, she would sell various beadwork pieces. Her craft became widespread and she began getting more customers and requests. In 2018, she was interviewed by APTN to showcase her puppets on national television. Following her interview, she was also featured on CBC News, Global Calgary Newspaper, the Strathmore Times Newspaper, and the Siksika Aitsiniki Newspaper. Most recently, she was interviewed by APTN again in December of 2022 for the lnFocus television program as part of the Indigenous artists segment. Lastly, she has won multiple awards with her artistry, such as first place twice at the Calgary Stampede and first at the Siksika Nation fair.

In 2010, her daughter Winter-Rose was running for a local pageant and wanted to do a puppet show for the talent portion of the contest. Laura created her first puppet and afterwards, with the material left over, she donated a puppet set to one of the Siksika Elementary Schools. The puppets became utilized as an educational tool to preserve language and culture programming. Immediately, more requests for puppets came in from other schools, programs, and organizations. The designs on the puppets themselves also feature a multitude of craftsmanship, with the sewing for the traditional ribbon skirts and ribbon shirts and beadwork for the buckskin moccasins. She now pursues her craft of beading, sewing, and puppets as a full-time business. Asham is proud of her work, especially with her puppets. Not only because of the joy it brings to others, but also the fact that they have been used for educational purposes all over the nation to give traditional culture and language teachings to the children. With her determination, creativity, and lifelong experience, she hopes to continue growing her business by opening a commercial space so her puppets can reach a bigger market, educate more children, and bring more joy to others.