2.5 Million Beads and One Very Patient Gwich’in Husband
By Forrest
Let’s be real for a second: If you had told me five years ago that I’d be able to identify "Cranberry Pink 11-4211" from across a crowded room, I would have told you to go home.
But here I am—a gay man from The Yukon Territories who moved across the border, fell in love with a Gwich’in Man from Fort Yukon (Canyon Village), and somehow became the co-pilot of a full-blown Alaska Native mercantile.
Welcome to "Married to the Smoke."
This isn't your average "lifestyle blog." This is a front-row seat to the madness, the beauty, and the literal smoke that comes with running Northern Trades & Mercantile Co. ### The "Bead Husband" Life Living with Devin means my house smells like traditionally smoked moose hide (which, honestly, is the best candle scent ever invented) and my coffee table is permanently covered in the "Sparkle."
Coming from the Yukon, I thought I knew the North—but marrying into a Gwich’in family is a whole different level of education. I’ve learned that you don't just "do" business here. You build relationships. You honor the aunties. You make sure the beads are heritage-grade because a 200-hour masterwork deserves nothing less. Devin brings the deep roots and the ancestral "know-how," and I bring the "business smoke"—the spreadsheets, the 2026 Tour logistics, and the caffeine.
Why I’m Pulling Back the Curtain
I’m starting this blog because I want to show you the side of the Mercantile the public doesn't always see:
The "Bead Math" Meltdowns: Ever tried to weigh out a shipment of 2.5 million beads while nieces and nephews are running through the shop? It’s a competitive sport.
Navigating the North: What it’s like being a couple building a legacy in the Interior. (Spoiler: It involves a lot of winter gear and a lot of heart.)
The Student Phase: Even with my Yukon roots, I’m a student of this specific culture every single day. I’m the guy building the table so our Artist Collective can sit at the head of it.
The Sparkle and the Smoke
At Northern Trades, we live by a standard. The sparkle is the art; the smoke is the work. I’m here for both. Whether we’re prepping for the Sprint into Spring Expo at the Carlson Center or unboxing a new masterwork from one of our BC First Nations relatives, I’m going to tell you exactly how it feels to be right in the thick of it.
So, grab a cup of ligafii, get comfortable, and let’s get into it. It’s going to be a wild, sparkly, smoky ride.
Mahsi’ Cho for being here. Now, who’s ready for some bead talk?
Forrest Stoneraven