Beaded Fringe Sash

When you look at this Beaded Fringe Sash You see: The Story of A Group of People Who Were Lost Between The Lines of Selective History

When looking at the surroundings of the beaded fringe sash it is easy to overlook this talisman of history. It lays flat among the other towering objects in its glass case. This beaded sash is made from plant fibers and wooden beads, its origins and use is factually unknown to the Orma J. Smith Museum. Although it may seem like this sash has no story to tell, in reality, it stands proudly as a representation of the objects that tell Native American's histories; from sovereign nation, to family, to individual.

Beadwork: More than art

Beadwork has a long and rich history in Native American culture that began when colonizing and Native America collided. After trading to begin receive beads, Native beadwork developed entirely as an tradition of its own. New styles, patterns, and ways to bead came to life as the practice was carried across the nation. Instead of just a decoration, beading became a way for people to attach their stories to objects that were passed on from generation to generation. Through colonization, genocide, and the oppression of Native people, beading has been used proudly as a sign of indigeneity. In museums beadwork has often been represented as neutral pieces of art and because of this, the stories of the people who the objects belong to have been lost. This fringe sash can lead a person to the questions of the stories of all the people who the sash belonged to. Following the story of beadwork, regalia, and Native history, one can find a culture that is thriving and a group of people waiting to tell their story.