Lesson Four: Beadwork Patterns

Lesson 1 Lesson 2 Lesson 3 Lesson 4 Lesson 5 Lesson 6 Lesson 7 Lesson 8

Teacher Information:

The Blackfoot liked to produce colorful geometric designs using beads. Quill-work influenced bead work and embroidering after beads were introduced during the fur trade era. During the early days, porcupine quills were chosen with preference given to the quills from the back and sides of the porcupine. They were colored red, green, or blue by using plant dyes. Quills were most commonly applied to men's shirts, leggings, and buffalo robes in a series of narrow parallel bands. Beads were applied to garments using the same geometric patterns that were used with quill design. Initially, embroidery beads were much larger than those used today and were much more expensive so they were used sparingly. Traders supplied beads in six different colors: light blue, dark blue, dark red, deep yellow, white, and black. Blackfoot People preferred the blue and white beads, the women commonly alternating bands of blue and white beads when they decorated their own dresses. Men also wore beaded cuffs as a part of their ceremonial clothing.

Distribute The Blackfoot Quill and Bead Design handout to the students. This will allow them to visually see what the geometric designs looked like and the color patterns that were traditionally used by the Blackfoot women.

Materials needed for this lesson are:

• Beads in the six traditional colors: light blue, dark blue, dark red, yellow, black, and white
• Stiff pieces of paper
• Pencils, erasers
• Glue

Main Lesson:

Ask students to identify the different types of patterns they notice in the Blackfoot Quill and Bead Design handout.

Students will choose one of the geometric designs that appeals to them and sketch this pattern on to bottom portion of the Blackfoot Quill and Bead Design handout.

Students will then decide on which color combination appeals to them most and select the bead necessary for their project.

Using a stiff piece of cardboard and a glue stick, students will arrange and glue their beads to the paper to mimic the pattern and color combination they have selected.

Students should follow the basic guidelines as to maintain Blackfoot tradition:

• Must have more than three lines of squares
• Must be constructed around a middle line which contains an odd number of coloured squares
• Must use more than one colour

Students may also be given the freedom to create their own geometric design. Remind students to follow the basic Blackfoot Quill and Bead Design guidelines when creating their design.