Indigenous Beadwork Inspired by Life and Tradition

Beadwork owes much of its history and relevance to indigenous traditions. As with many art forms, indigenous beadwork remains rooted in its origins while changing and growing. Motifs, techniques, and materials expand to include unconventional color palettes, pop culture references, and more. With profound respect for their ancestral craftsmanship, indigenous beadwork artists blend age-old techniques with contemporary creativity.

The second Monday of October is recognized as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the United States. This is a time to reflect and understand the history, told from all sides. It is also a time to celebrate the beauty of indigenous art, creativity, and culture. We invited five indigenous beadwork artists to share their inspiration and beadwork.

Healing Beadwork

Sonya Tate Nevaquaya is Comanche, Choctaw, and Chickasaw. Beading is part of Sonya’s healing journey. She says, “My inspiration comes from my battle with cancer. I’m in full remission one year this October 2023. When I was battling cancer, I told myself ‘I will do things I love when I am healed.’ Beading was a love of mine when I was in my twenties, so it’s been 23 years since I picked up my love for beading again. I thank the Lord for my healing every day and for this gift to bead. I pray when I bead so it can bless the person who receives my work.”

Cultural Beadwork

Joni Millard’s tribes are Nakoda, White Clay, and Apsáalooke.  She explains that one of the reasons she started beading was to carry on a part of her culture. She says, “I started my social media accounts to sell my beadwork but in doing so, I also have been able to help others preserve their Indigenous heritage.”

It’s important to Joni to reflect her experience. She says, “Regardless of blood quantum, keep the culture alive. No matter what your background, keep the traditions, keeping listening, keep respecting, keep the stories alive. It doesn’t matter what language they are in.” Joni is proud to be half Indigenous and half White.

Personal Beadwork

Daniel (they/them) is Roma-Gitane, Sinti, Asian, and Indigenous and Joey (he/him), also known as Waasay Makwa Inini, is a queer Anishnaabe artist, and, together, they make up Heron Hill Designs. The natural beauty of Michigan inspires their artwork.

Daniel and Joey share, “Our work is a blend of contemporary styles of art and older traditional woodland floral designs. One of our absolute favorite things as beaders and creators is having the honor of being included in meaningful and profound moments in people’s lives. Whether those moments are weddings, anniversaries, naming ceremonies, or something else entirely that is unique and special to those who come to us.”

Colorful Beadwork

Heywood Big Day III, also known as Third, belongs to the Crow Tribal Nation. Raised in the Crow way of life and surrounded by a family of artists, Third creates beadwork inspired by his culture, family, friends, and fashion. He stitches traditional Crow Indian beadwork with a twist, interpreting colors and motifs through his own artistic vision. Third is honored that people wear his jewelry and have his beadwork in their homes.

Third describes his daily inspiration: “Every morning, I try to wake up before the sun so I can pray to it as it rises for good luck, fortune, health, loved ones, and my beadwork. After the sunrise prayer, I pray to the water before my first cup of drinking it, giving thanks, and praying for a good heart, clear mind, and the ability to work in a good way. After the prayers to the water, I then to smudge to bless myself, family, loved ones, and for a good day.”

Related: Indigenous Beadwork: Sharing Our Stories

Indigenous Beadwork Artists

By embracing change while honoring tradition, these artisans ensure that indigenous beadwork is a vibrant, living art form. Their inspiration reflects a deep reverence for their heritage, and a profound awareness of what it means to be a bead artist today.