Summit Hill ElementaryArt EDventures

“Bandolier Bags & Beads”2nd Grade/Southeastern Woodland Indians

Martha Berry

Brought to you by S.H.E. PTA

Meet Martha Berry

Registered tribal citizen of the Cherokee Nation

“Art is long and time is fleeting.”

Award-Winning Cherokee Beadwork Artist

Cherokee Roots• Martha Berry’s mother and

grandmother were from the Cherokee Nation of Native Americans.

• They began teaching her how to use a needle and thread when she was just five. By age nine, she was making her own clothes!

• As a grown woman, Martha was asked by a Cherokee Chief to use her sewing talents to save their beading traditions.

• She was flattered and concerned to find that there were only a handful of beadwork artists within the entire Cherokee community of 350,000 people.

Martha Berrywith Little Miss Cherokee 2007

Native Nations• Martha spent a long time researching

different beading styles and patterns of the Southeastern Woodland Indians; including, the Cherokee, Creek, Seminole and others.

• In Georgia, the Cherokee were found in the northern part of the state. (hit enter)

• They lived in large villages and farmed “the three sisters” (maize, beans and squash.) They also gathered berries, nuts and fruit; hunted deer and wild turkey; and fished. (hit enter)

• Like most Native Americans, the Cherokee used beads in their artwork and clothing and for their trading.

Corn

Beans

Squash

The Three Sisters

Cherokee Beadwork• Early Cherokee beads were

carved from things found locally like shells, stones, wood, animal bones even claws! (hit enter)

• In the 1600’s the Cherokee began trading with European explorers for things they didn’t have like glass beads, steel needles, silk thread, ribbon and new types of cloth.

• As a result, they began to produce beadwork that was both unique and beautiful.

Shell BeadsShell Beads

Bone BeadsBone Beads

Seed BeadsSeed Beads

Belts and sashes

Moccasins

Small purses

Beading Items Included….

Bandolier Bags

Bandolier bags took a very long time to create and were highly prized items. Perhaps that’s why many Native Americans chose to wear them for photographs.

(hit enter for b&w photos) (hit enter for bag I.D.)

Can you find the bandolier bags in

each photo?(hit enter for b&w photos to

exit and color photos to appear!)

Trail Of Tears• Unfortunately, many early

Americans had no interest bandolier bags. They wanted the Cherokee’s land for cotton plantations and gold instead.

• In fact, nearly every Native American tribe east of the Mississippi was forced relocate to Oklahoma.

• This event was called the Trail of Tears because so many Cherokee’s lost their lives.

• When they reached Oklahoma, they had to rebuild their lives. However, there was no longer time for beadwork and the tradition was nearly forgotten.

“Chief’s Bag”

• Thanks to Martha Berry, old-style Southeastern Woodland beadwork is now enjoying a revival among today’s Cherokee, Creek and Seminole people.

• These tribes conduct workshops teaching traditional beadwork.

• Martha has won many awards for her creative designs-especially her bandolier bags.

• In 2003, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chadwick “Corntassel” Smith wore this bandolier bag as he took his oath of office.

? Can You Find…?

Sun Circles-Stand for the light of the sun that circles earth. (hit enter)

Four winds- Represent messenger spirits and weather. (hit enter)

Crosses- Depict the four directions (north, south, east and west.) (hit enter)

Uktena- Is a symbol of the mysterious horned serpent believed to bring rain. (hit enter 2xs)

“Hidden In Plain Sight”

Beadwork Symbols

• Martha’s beadwork often tells the stories of her Cherokee ancestors.

• This bag, named “Hidden in Plain Sight,” took Martha 283 hours to complete!

• If you look closely, you can see many sacred Cherokee symbols!

(hit enter)

The 7-Point StarThis seven pointed star symbol is very special! It stands for the seven Cherokee clans being called together from all directions to dance around the central fire.

“Dance By Numbers”

Can you find two, four and seven different symbols in this “Dance by Numbers” bag?

The pattern in this bandolier bag reflects the importance of numbers to the Cherokee. Especially the numbers:

•2 (hit enter)•4 (hit enter)•7 (hit enter)

(hit enter 2 more times for more!)

Art EDventures Sample

Bandolier Bag

Now it’s time to bead like Martha Berry!

But first you must learn about the Seven Sacred Clans and their colors!

Then use your special color and Woodland Indian

designs to make a bandolier bag of your very

own!

Use The Color Of Clans(hit enter 7 x’s)

Deer Clan:•Fast runners•Excellent trackers•Great hunters

Blue Clan:•Keepers of special blue medicine to keep children well •Guardians of medical herbs

Bird Clan:•Skilled bird hunters•Keeper of the birds•Master messengers

Paint Clan:•Makers of red paint for war and ceremonies•Shaman, Medicine Men and Priests•Smallest and most secretive clan

Long Hair Clan:•Keepers of traditions•Best teachers•Wore their hair twisted or braided

Wild Potato Clan:•Farmers of the wild potato•Protectors of earth•Great hunters

Wolf Clan:•Amazing Warriors•Protectors of the people•Where Chiefs came from

• Remember that what makes the beadwork of the Southeastern Woodland Indians stand out are the floral and curving designs and patterns. These are different from the triangles and straight lines used by Native American artists from other parts of the country. Some examples are:

Distinct Designs

Project Art EDventuresYour Clan Color

• Look at the clan assigned to your table. Use your tribe’s color in your design.

Build Your Bag

• Take your brown paper bag and make sure the flap which covers the pouch is folded down in front.

• Use a hole punch to make holes around the edge of the folded bag.

Draw The Paw

• Sign your name and “Draw the Paw” on the back of your bag before you begin beading. This will let others know your bandolier bag is an Art EDventures creation! You can add your clan name too:

• Deer Wolf

• Bird Wild Potato

• Long Hair War Paint Blue

Sew Your Seams

• Use the white yarn to “sew” your pouch together. Thread your yarn through a hole, then loop it around the outer edges of the bag, then back through the next hole.

• When you have closed all your seams, tie the ends of the thread together to create your shoulder strap.

Distinctive Designs

• Look at the examplesof floral and curving designs on the sheet on your table and select a few to decorate your bandolier bag.

• Choose some beads and arrange them on your bag.

• Use the tacky glue to stick the beads to the bag. Only a little glue is needed for each bead! Don’t worry, the glue will dry clear!

Supply List

• Heavy Brown Packaging Paper-pre-cut into the pattern for the bags. (One per child.)

• White Yarn-pre cut into 6 foot lengths (one per child.)

• Pony Beads –in the colors of the Cherokee Clans-brown, blue, green, red, white and yellow. (One bowl per table.)

• Quick Dry Tacky Glue-several per table.

• Hole Punches-(several per table.)

• Markers or Pencils-for signing their names. (Several per table)

• Table Handouts-laminated Woodland Indian design sheets and the 7 Sacred Cherokee Clan table markers.

G.P.S. TiesSS2H2 The student will describe the Georgia Creek and Cherokee cultures of the past in terms of tools, clothing, homes, ways of making a living, and accomplishments.

a. Describe the regions in Georgia where the Creeks and Cherokees lived and how the people used their local resources.b. Compare and contrast the Georgia Creek and Cherokee cultures of the past to Georgians today.

SS2G2 The student will describe the cultural and geographic systems associated with the historical figures in SS2H1 and Georgia’s Creeks and Cherokees.

SS2H1 The student will read about and describe the lives of historical figures in Georgia history.a. Identify the contributions made by these historic figures: James Oglethorpe, Tomochichi, and Mary Musgrove (founding of Georgia); Sequoyah (development of a Cherokee alphabet); Jackie Robinson (sports); Martin Luther King, Jr. (civil rights); Jimmy Carter (leadership and human rights).b. Describe how everyday life of these historical figures is similar to and different from everyday life in the present (food, clothing, homes, transportation, communication, recreation, rights, and freedoms).

Dear Mom, Dad or Caretaker,

•Today we learned about Martha Berry, an award-winning Cherokee bead artist. I learned that the Cherokee originally lived in the northern parts of Georgia and other southeastern states. Did you know that they used beads to create beautiful designs on their clothing and bags?•In fact, Martha Berry uses the “old-style” techniques of the Southeastern Woodland Indians and is best known for her elaborately beaded bandolier bags.•We also looked at her art for stories, patterns and symbols which have special meanings to the Cherokee.•After, we divided into the seven Cherokee clans, we used a clan color in our Art EDventure project--a beaded bandolier bag. •Ask me about my design and which clan I belonged to for the day!

Bandolier Bag

Art EDventuresMade possible with your donations to S.H.E.’s PTA

Art EDventuresMade possible with your donations to S.H.E.’s PTA

Dear Mom, Dad or Caretaker,

•Today we learned about Martha Berry, an award-winning Cherokee bead artist. I learned that the Cherokee originally lived in the northern parts of Georgia and other southeastern states. Did you know that they used beads to create beautiful designs on their clothing and bags?•In fact, Martha Berry uses the “old-style” techniques of the Southeastern Woodland Indians and is best known for her elaborately beaded bandolier bags.•We also looked at her art for stories, patterns and symbols which have special meanings to the Cherokee.•After, we divided into the seven Cherokee clans, we used the clan color in our Art EDventure project--a beaded bandolier bag. •Ask me about my design and which clan I belonged to for the day!

Martha BerryMartha Berry Bandolier Bag