Birdie Real Bird is renowned for her bead work within the Crow community. She has been beading since she was 12 years old. "I never pass a day without beading. If I’m busy, I might bead for one hour."

The only time Real Bird wasn't beading was when she underwent treatment for breast cancer three times. Her most recent diagnosis was last November. "Every single treatment was hard...Today I feel a lot stronger. And I can, I can get back to beading...You got to stand up and keep going. I’m glad I’m back to beading"