Destressing and creating with the Native American Student Council

The Utah State University Native American Student Council hosted a Native American beading circle for students to come and learn how to create beaded earrings.

The idea came from Alina Begay, the advisor, who would bead around the office. Other students began to take notice and she wanted to share the experience with others.

“Hosting beading circles help share our culture and break stereotypes. Beading is intertribal, but in way it brings us together. It is exposure, and interactions between natives and non native,” Begay said.

The council said it was helpful to have someone teach them first how to bead. It’s a skill that has been shared through generations. Tyra Hardin, human development and family studies major and member of the Northwest Shoshone tribe, said the the tradition was passed on to her.

“All our traditions are passed orally. These are passed through the generations. Our ancestors passed it to us. A lot of people learn from grandparents, parents or advisors,” Hardin said.

Along with the tradition of beading, there are also many meanings within the beads. The council members explained the concept of the sunset or fire beads. These are the yellow, red, orange or white beads. They are used in different designs, but have a special meaning.

Marty Brown, NASC vice president, explained what they symbolize in the Navajo culture.

“In my culture it represents the beginning or a new start. It’s a way of waking your body mind and soul up. It’s a really good tradition,” Brown said.

The art of beading also has other benefits. The repetition and focus that comes from beading offers many a way to decompress. The designs also have a way of showing the personality of the creator.

“Beading has helped me relax and helped my mind focus. It’s interesting because beading shows patience. It expresses emotions and details of yourself. My design is complicated and has details because I like art,” Brown said.

There is also much more to beading than just earrings. Begay has been working on beading a new crown for the Miss Native American USU competition. She also has made more contemporary work like a Star Wars Boba Fett medallion for her brother. Brown said that he has made lots of regalia for pow wows. He also once made a dinosaur themed beaded pendant for his nephew’s birthday.

Those that came to the beading circle got to enjoy listening to Native American music and sip on Navajo tea. Emma Jones, a conservation and restoration ecology major, was interested in learning about beading and came to the circle.

“I’m from New Mexico and we have a lot of different Pueblo tribes there. It’s a melting pot of cultures in New Mexico,” Jones said. “I was interested because it’s something I’ve been surrounded by. It’s cool to learn about how different beading is. It’s good to broaden my knowledge about other tribes.”

The NASC members were excited to share this skill with others who wanted to learn. They are planning on more beading circles in the future.

“Our culture is to share, we are taught that a lot. So that is why we do these things. We want to give back to the community,” Hardin said.

The next beading circle open to students will be held on Nov, 14 from 3-5 p.m. in the Taggart Student Center 315A.

—shelby.black@aggiemail.usu.edu

@shelbsterblack