Bead Aware! Exploring Beaded Jewelry in Native American Culture

Making beads is an old craft.

Bone, stone (turquoise and other semi-precious stones) and shell beads are still made the ancient way, little affected by modern technology. Sea

shells, the commonest material for handmade beads, have been important native regional trade items for thousands of years.

Making and wearing beaded jewelry has always been an important aspect of Native American culture.

What Is a Bead ?

A bead is any object that can be strung to adorn or decorate a person, thing, or place. From early beginnings people have worn beads to proclaim their identity, status, and kinship; to bedazzle others and to please themselves. Beads have been used to tally

property, pay for goods, and record events.Beads invoke protection and well-being. They declare power and

wealth. They tell of those who make them, wear them, pray, pledge, love, mourn, and celebrate with them.

Our fundamental human needs have found expression through beads.

They reflect the history of Earth’s people and continue to be a part of our lives.

 

image Description

(what you see)

Citation

(the correct way, please)

Your sketch

Single strand

White beads

All same size

Long(?) wrapped

No pendant

Northwestern NUniversity Library, Edward S. Curtis's 'The North American Indian the Photgraphic Images, 2001. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/award98/ienhtml/curthome.html

Your research chart should look something like this. You need 12 examples of Native Americans wearing bead jewelry!

Making and Firing Ceramic Beads

PiercingWhen piercing your beads, insert a needle tool, bamboo skewer, or toothpick where you want the hole. Twist and push the tool in a drilling motion until the point just breaks through the other side of the bead. (See photo, right)Remove the skewer and insert it from the other side, repeating the drilling motion. This will keep the bead from being distorted as you put the hole into it. It will also give you a much cleaner hole.

Making beads is an old craft. Bone, stone (turquoise and other semi-precious stones) and shell beads are still made the ancient way, little affected by modern technology. Sea shells, the commonest material for handmade beads, have been important native regional trade items for thousands of years.