Growing up among my Dakota
people on the Fort Peck Sioux and Assiniboine reservation, beadwork
was always near me in my home town of Poplar, Montana. My mother
is a bead worker as well; so, my exposure to beadwork came at
an early age.
During my teenage years I
realized that I enjoyed beadwork, and found it to be time consuming
and stress relieving. The creation of my first born son’s
cradle board instilled a sense of pride and accomplishment.
I recall thinking, “This
is what my ancestors did to honor a “Wakanyeja”, a
sacred little being coming into the world.” In my effort
to preserve the Dakota Style of beadwork, it is my hope to maintain
the identity of my culture and Dakota people, through my expansion
in knowledge of the techniques and designs.
My husband Darryl can be a
helpful fraction, when I seem to get stuck since; the knowledge
comes effortlessly being that he grew up with beads too. I’ve
just begun and remain open-hearted with what I am blessed to
create next!
It is made with brain tanned
deer hide using size 15 beads and the doll is stuffed with buffalo
hair. Other materials used are brass tacks, brass bells, silk
ribbon, and horse hair.