Florence Marks Sheakley is a member of the Raven moiety, the Lukaax.ádi clan, and is the child of the Chookaneidí.  

She learned to do beadwork at an early age from her mother, Emma Marks, a well-known bead artist.  Emma created the White Raven, a totemic design and piece of at.óow (clan property), for the Marks family. Florence now makes this design for her relatives.  

Florence has an extensive background in education and teaching.  She works with the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau as the Tlingit Language Instructor and is self-employed as an artist.  In the past she has worked with the Juneau-Douglas School District as a teacher, Sheldon Jackson in Sitka as a Lecturer, and for Sealaska Corp. as a Canvasser.  In addition to teaching in the classroom, Florence dedicates time to Culture Camps where she teaches Tlingit language and Tlingit customs.  She also has traveled with tourists onboard the Alaska Marine Highway, as well as many of the large tour ships which dock in Juneau. 

Florence’s beadwork has been exhibited in state museums across Alaska, and many pieces are worn during traditional ceremonies and during Celebration, a large cultural festival organized biennially by Sealaska Heritage Institute in Juneau. 

Her beadwork is sought by the public, businesses, museums, and most of all, by the Tlingits themselves.

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