Homeschool Co-op Week 2

Explorers in our Homeschool Co-op had the honor of welcoming special guests, Straightarrow and Princess Pine Water who guided us in an Indigenous Inspired Beadwork activity. While our tools and materials were different than what was traditionally used, we had so much fun practicing this ancient handwork activity.

We used homemade looms made by Princess Pine Water, metal threading needles, string and pony beads. Straightarrow shared with us that traditionally, Indigenous Peoples would use porcupine quills as a needle, and they would make their own beads from shells and even bone. They would boil shape the beads by rolling them against a stone and boil them in a natural dye solution to give them color. When Europeans arrived they brought with them glass beads to trade which offered more of a variety and expanded their creative options.

Indigenous beadwork can symbolize nature, a family story, lineage, rites of passage, tribe symbols and more. We are so grateful for this opportunity to learn about and practice this ancient tradition; we hope to do it again!