Young Learners’ Series: Native American Jewelry

Join us for a short informational presentation on the art of Native American jewelry making past and present. After the presentation, students will have the opportunity to create their own beaded jewelry to take home or share as part of our youth education exhibit. The program is free.

Jewelry is an important form of art and culture for many Native American tribes. In the past & today, jewelry making is passed down as a cultural practice and is used for adornment and individual & familial identification. Historically, jewelry was made of natural materials such as shells & nuts, which were carved into beads. As trading with Europeans increased, beading became more popular.

Native Americans designed their beaded jewelry to reflect their stories. Today art jewelry is made from metals, seeds, nuts, stone & fish bone as well as synthetic beads. It is shared from teacher to student within families & groups to preserve artistic & cultural practice or worn in cultural identification & celebration.