Crafters Provide Examples of Native American Beading on the History Tree

Deb Tiger is a maker of traditional Native American clothing. She also makes Native American crafts. She is just one of the Native American artists who have items placed on the History Tree at Prairie Star Gallery in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. At the 10th annual tradition at the downtown Sioux Falls native art gallery, there is a twelve foot tree that is covered in decorations.

Deb Tiger's tiny baby moccasins are carefully sewn with beads in traditional patterns. She also made miniature replicas of garments she makes for pow-pow dancers and anyone else who wants traditional Native American Clothing.

Everything on the tree is hand made using Native American traditional techniques and materials. Every reservation and tribal group in South Dakota is represented and has contributed items for the History Tree, which will be on display until the end of January.

The ornaments that are for sale were made by about a hundred families who contributed over a thousand items for the tree. Every member of the family works on the ornament: The father, mother, children, grand children all work together.

The tree features a broad range of hand-made items: baby moccasins, tiny breastplates and headdresses, small sage wreaths, willow and quilled medicine wheels, and medicine bags. Hanging on the tree are beaded dream catchers, and many sacred animals. The ornaments are made from everything from leather to stained glass.

Other Crafters
Ben Spirit Track made medallions from beads, a craft he learned from his grandmother. He hopes that the tree will pass some of the Native American beading traditions onto future generations, by rousing interest. One of his medallions is made of leather and is round with beads stitched into the center. It symbolizes the four directions and the round shape is symbolic of the Earth.

Jaida Gray Eagle made beaded dream-catchers for the tree.

Ben McBride provided some miniature drums. He learned beading from his family and in school where traditional beading techniques are still taught to the children.

Although beading is traditional in Native America culture, many other cultures world wide have beading traditions. The Bead Cottage can help you with ideas and inspiration for your beading projects.

Karen Vertigan Pope writes for Ciniva Systems, an award winning Virginia web design company. Ciniva specializes in web design and SEO. Ms. Vertigan Pope is the Project Support Manager and SEO Specialist for Ciniva.

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