| American Indian beadwork is an art that has been | | | | There is still many people doing beadwork today |
| handed down for generations among the different | | | | and many of them are decedents of the |
| Indian cultures. Their beads were used on | | | | American Indians of days gone by but their spirit |
| moccasins, pipebags, belt bags, used on toy | | | | lives on in their children, grandchildren and great |
| cradles, dolls, and other toys, knife sheaths, and | | | | grandchildren. Beadwork and other works of art |
| different pieces of clothing. The beadwork varied | | | | that the American Indians did should never die. |
| greatly among the different tribes and individuals | | | | Hopefully the offspring of the pioneers will |
| but each one was unique in its own way. Each | | | | continue on with the traditions and artwork. |
| tribe had different colors depending on the dyes | | | | Back then it was a necessity for survival but |
| available from different plants in the areas in | | | | today it is just a hobby but it is at least still being |
| which they lived. | | | | utilized. Before beadwork was introduced into the |
| Much of the beadwork and other Indian Pottery | | | | Indians way of life, they used mainly paints made |
| and artwork had a meaning behind it and | | | | of dyes from different plants and flowers, shell, |
| represented something in their lives. Since the | | | | and porcupine quills. Quillwork was a sacred art of |
| American Indians were on the move a lot they | | | | the Native American Plains tribes. |
| could not have breakables of any kind so they | | | | Clothing, utensils and other devices were |
| would decorate their utensils, blankets, or anything | | | | decorated. It was not until the mid eighteen |
| else they could paint, attach beads, carve or | | | | hundreds that designs began to change. Some of |
| decorate in any other way. | | | | the tribes today who still do beadwork are Pueblo, |
| They had a gift of imagination and handiwork | | | | Five Civilized Tribes, Shoshone, Lakota, Cheyenne, |
| second to none and there are still many beautiful | | | | Arapahoe, and many more. Surprisingly enough |
| pieces of artwork made years ago. Some of | | | | there is still a lot of beadwork being produced by |
| these can be found on the market for purchase | | | | hand by these tribe's people. These people are |
| and there are many pieces in museums around | | | | proud and they want their offspring to remember |
| the country. To us today, the beadwork is just | | | | their elders and their traditions from long ago. |
| beautiful pieces of jewelry, etc., but to them they | | | | Beadwork is one way to remind the American |
| meant much more. it was a way of life for them. | | | | Indians of today of who they are and where |
| It was a way for each one to express | | | | they came from. It is so thrilling that they have |
| themselves. The history of each tribe is a story in | | | | such beautiful art to live on through their heirs. |
| itself and it is very interesting to study them. | | | | |