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This medalion necklace by an unknown artist has the floral motif commonly used in most Ojibwe beadwork. (Large Image) |
The Ojibwe people of the Great Lakes area are part of the 'Eastern Woodlands' group of Native Americans. They are known by "Ojibwe", "Chippewa", or in their own language, "Anishanabe". Their beadwork reflects the beauty of the flowers and plants found in the forests of Northern Minnesota.
Fine quality seed glass beads are made only in Czechoslovakia. They were brought to North America by European fur traders. Before that time, Native women made beads by carving wood, animal horns, turtle shells, deer hooves, animal teeth and claws.
This intricate and time-consuming work is done mostly for family members and friends to wear for powwows. For example, to fully bead the yoke and upper sleeves of a buckskin dance dress takes about 20 pounds of seed beads and almost a year of work to complete.
I'd like to share with you some smaller examples of the beautiful beadwork crafted by Ojibwe artists from the Leech Lake Reservation.
