Mickaela Allison is a Diné (Navajo) artist, cultural educator, and community leader based in Utah. Through beadwork, dance, and cultural education, she creates spaces where Indigenous traditions are celebrated, shared, and carried forward by future generations.

Mickaela began beading as a young girl under the guidance of her mother, learning traditional techniques including loom beadwork, peyote stitch, and other styles rooted in Navajo artistry. Her work is deeply influenced by the teachings of her family, especially the strength, resilience, and creativity of the Navajo women who came before her. Each piece she creates reflects the importance of storytelling, identity, and honoring those connections.

She is the founder and artist behind Keikis Collection (@keikiscollection), an indigenous woman-owned beadwork business specializing in handcrafted beaded pet collars. Inspired by her late dog, Keiki, the collection celebrates the special bond between people and their animals while blending contemporary design with traditional beadwork techniques. Through a rebrand in partnership with Adobe, Mickaela transformed her business into a meaningful tribute that honors love, remembrance, and Indigenous artistry.

For more than a decade, Mickaela has also taught Powwow dance—including Jingle Dress and Fancy Shawl—as well as traditional Navajo dance to youth and adults. She believes that art is more than something we create—it is a way of preserving culture, building community, and strengthening identity. Whether teaching dance, beading alongside students, or leading cultural workshops, she encourages others to embrace their stories with pride.

Beyond her artistic practice, Mickaela serves as the Career Pathways Facilitator for the City of South Salt Lake, where she mentors youth and connects college and career readiness with cultural identity. She also founded the Native Student Club at Cottonwood High School, creating opportunities for Urban Native youth to explore traditional arts, leadership, and higher education.

Whether she is teaching dance, creating beadwork, mentoring youth, or leading cultural workshops, Mickaela’s mission remains the same: to honor her ancestors by preserving and sharing Diné traditions through art, education, and storytelling. Through her work, she hopes to inspire others to embrace their identities with pride, celebrate the richness of Indigenous cultures, and carry those traditions forward for future generations.