By Korey Mitchell, White Oak High School, Onslow County Schools, North Carolina
OVERVIEW OF LESSON:
Students will learn about North Carolina Indigenous cultures, traditions, symbolism, and beadwork. They will have the opportunity to work with a guest artist to spark their creative minds. They will sketch a beadwork design incorporating a specific tribe, history, and an Identity Symbol. Students will sew their design as a medallion. A reflection will be written based on their experience with a visiting artist, and their own process and expression toward creating the final product. At the end of the lesson students will present their medallion to the class.
SUGGESTED GRADE LEVELS: Grades 9-12
SUBJECTS: Visual Arts & Fibers
CORRESPONDING NATIONAL AND/OR STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA STANDARDS:
B.V.1.1 Use art vocabulary when discussing art and artistic styles.
B.V.1.2 Apply the Elements of Art and Principles of Design to create art.
B.V.2.3 Create personal, symbolic expression as a means of communication (original, visual language).
B.CX.1.1 Use visual arts to explore concepts in world history and relate them to significant events, ideas, and movements from a global context.
B.CX.1.3 Understand how art is used to document human experience.
B.CX.1.4 Interpret art in terms of cultural and ethnic context.
B.CX.2.1 Analyze the contribution of art to the design of consumable goods, products, and services, both historical and contemporary.
B.CX.2.2 Recognize the interdisciplinary knowledge used in the creation of art.
I.V.1.3 Understand the use of global themes, symbols, and subject matter in art.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
- How does knowing the contexts, histories, and traditions of art forms help us create works of art and design?
- What symbols are found in Indigenous cultures?
- How do we create a personal/symbolic expression as a means of communication?
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
- Students will be able to understand a variety of Indigenous traditions, including Indigenous beadwork, specifically from the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina
- Students will be able to understand the meaning behind a medallion in Indigenous tradition.
- Students will be able to understand and express identity through symbolism of Indigenous culture and history.
- Students will be able to do a brick and peyote stitch when bead working, sew a medallion using a variety of materials and create a medallion that symbolizes their identity.
- Students will understand urban communities of Indigenous people in North Carolina.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR THE EDUCATOR or RESOURCES TO EXPLORE FURTHER:
Note from UNC World View: Educators and their students must understand the importance and significance that beadwork has had and remains today for Indigenous peoples. The use of beads to adorn clothing and bodies pre-dates European contact and has evolved in material and style over time. Traditions, particularly beadwork, have been passed on from one generation to the next. Artisans meticulously craft regalia and adornments, passing on their expertise until the next generation can carry the torch. These traditions are sacred, with the peyote stitch standing out as a particularly revered practice and takes years to master. Each bead woven into place carries not only aesthetic beauty but also the weight of Native history and identity. Medallions made by students who not Indigenous themselves should be displayed, not worn, as to promote appreciation and to avoid cultural appropriation. A true appreciation comes from acknowledging the cultural significance behind these practices and honoring the Indigenous communities from which they originate. Inviting a guest artisan who is a member of a local Tribe is an important component of this lesson.
Please review and share the following:
ASI. (n.d.) A Thread Between Generations: Indigenous Beadwork from Then to Now
Faust Gallery. (March 21, 2021). The Evolution of Native American Beadwork
Smith. Naomi (Oct 10, 2022). Indigenous Beadwork: Sharing Our Stories.
Additional Resources:
Preserving Indigenous Culture & Tradition Slide Deck
Books:
Diana. (2023). Seed Bead Graph Paper: Medallion Pattern Large Print (Published independently, available on Amazon)
Sutton, S. (2019). Craftwork techniques of the Native Americans. Crazy Crow Trading Post.
Videos:
1.” How to make a beaded Rosette”
2. “Peyote Stitch: How to Bead”
Websites:
- “Lumbee History & Culture” This website explores the history & culture of the Lumbee Tribe in North Carolina.
- “Onslow Veterans Pow Wow” This article discusses the cultural experiences of Onslow County residents. Honoring local Veterans for their service.
- “North Carolina American Indian Heritage Commission” This presentation discusses the purpose of the North Carolina American Indian Heritage Commission.
- “Coharie Indian Tribe” This article discusses the history of the Coharie Indian Tribe in North Carolina.
- “Sampson County students learn about Indigenous history through art” This article explores Sampson County students experience learning about Indigenous history through art.
- “EdExplainer: How do we support Indigenous students in North Carolina” This article discusses how we can support Indigenous students in North Carolina.
- “NRM Spirit Seeds: A celebration of Indigenous beadwork” This article provides insights into the rich exploration of history and contemporary Indigenous beadwork.
- “Beadwork revival a life’s journey for artist Naomi Smith” This article provides insight into an artisan artist and her journey.
- “American Indian Tribes in North Carolina” This article discusses the American Indian tribes of North Carolina and the urban communities.
- “A history of Native Americans in North Carolina” This article explores the history of Native Americans in North Carolina.
- “Cherokee Beadwork and Beading Patterns” This article discusses the ancient art of Cherokee beading.
- “Cherokee Traditions” This website explores the arts and crafts of the Cherokee and their traditions.
- “NativeTech” This website explores Native American Technology and Art.
SPECIFIC STUDENT STRATEGIES & ACTIVITIES:
Day 1: The teacher will introduce Indigenous history, culture, and beadwork. Teacher can have students read articles suggested in the background section and show examples from Tribes, including those local to the school. For this lesson, the author used examples from the Coharie, Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians, and Lumbee Tribes and connected to a local Tribal organization and a member of a local Tribe to meet with students to share the history and significance of beadwork in her Tribe. There are also examples from other Tribes. Educators can choose to show additional images as well. Preserving Indigenous Culture & Tradition Slide Deck
Day 2: Students will research and create a medallion pattern (Identity Symbol). (Explore a variety of listed websites (see “Background Information for the Educator or Resources to Explore further”) and view the Preserving Indigenous Culture & Tradition Slide Deck
If available, please use the following books:
- Craftwork Techniques of the Native Americans Paperback-September 10, 2014, By: Scott Sutton. This book presents bead patterns of the Native American techniques. Easy to follow step-by-step lessons. You can explore the book
- (Feb 2023). Seed Bead Graph Paper: Medallion Pattern Large Print (Available on Amazon)
Day 3: Teacher will have arranged for a local Indigenous guest artist to come to the classroom. For this lesson the teacher worked with Indigenous guest speaker/artist: Raquel Painter to explore history and the medallion in local Indigenous Tribes. If there is not a guest artist available, teacher can use the videos shared. If classrooms are located in Eastern North Carolina they may contact Ms. Painter by email onslowpowwow@gmail.com to invite them to their classroom.
Day 4: Students will watch the video “How to make a beaded Rosette” and begin sewing their medallion
Day 5: Guest artist revisits students to guide, reflect and sew medallion.
Starting your Medallion:
- Students will cut out a 4×4-inch medallion pattern.
- Students will cut and thread the needle.
- Students will sew/tack the pattern to a piece of 6×6 inch felt.
- Students will knot the thread on the back side of the felt.
- Students will cut and thread another piece of thread.
- Students will poke the needle up through the center of the back side of the felted pattern.
- Students will string on one bead and poke through the front side of the felted pattern.
- Students will poke the needle up through the back side of the felted pattern and string on 5-6 seed beads according to the color pattern.
- Students will continue to sew the colored seed beads into a circular pattern until complete.
Day 6: Students will continue sewing the medallion.
Day 7: Students will finish sewing the medallion and begin hanging the cord.
Day 8: Students will string large beads to the cord.
Students will cut the cord 24 inches long and students will string on desired large beads into a color pattern.
Students should view the video, Peyote Stitch: How to Bead for additional guidance.
Students will match the ends of the cord and knot.
Day 9: Students will complete a written reflection.
ASSESSMENTS:
Formative:
- Daily Observation
- Rubric: (Teacher Observing Formally/Informally), Effort, Creativity, Identity Symbol: Connection Indigenous, History/Culture, Final Product, Written Reflection, Art Show & Pow Wow
- Class Presentation
Summative:
- Final Medallion
- Student Final Example. Preserving Indigenous Culture & Tradition Slide Deck
- Written Reflection
- Visionary Art Collective is a contemporary art & artist development company in New York City. The magazine offers art-based reflective questions. Free downloadable guide
LEARNING EXTENSIONS:
- Show medallions at a local art show and/or Pow Wow.
- Present and display final products to families during a school event.
- Students can share their final medallions with their local Board of Education.
MATERIALS:
Preserving Indigenous Culture & Tradition Slide Deck
pencil, medallion pattern paper, medallion print, colored pencils, seed beads, thread, thread wax, felt, cord, large beads, leather backing, examples of Indigenous Beadwork, hard copies of instructions and examples
REFERENCES:
American Indian Heritage Month Toolkit. North Carolina American Indian Heritage Commission. (March 2023). https://aihc.nc.gov/ncaihc-american-indian-heritage-month-toolkit/open
Diana. (2023). Seed Bead Graph Paper: Medallion Pattern Large Print (Published independently, available on Amazon)
Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians. (n.d.) Cherokee Beadwork and Beading Patterns. https://visitcherokeenc.com/cherokee-beadwork/
Fariello, M. Anna. (2008). Arts and Crafts: Rivercane Baskets. Cherokee Traditions. https://www.wcu.edu/library/digitalcollections/cherokeetraditions/ArtsAndCrafts/rivercanebaskets.html
History and culture: Lumbee-tribe-of-NC. lumbee. (n.d.). https://www.lumbeetribe.com/history-and-culture
History of the Coharie Indian Tribe. Coharie Indian Tribe. (n.d.). https://coharietribe.org/history/
McNeill, Cheyenne. (Aug 1, 2022). EdExplainer: How do we support Indigenous students in North Carolina? EdNC. https://www.ednc.org/edexplainer-how-do-we-support-indigenous-students-in-north-carolina/
Mississippi Valley Textile Museum. NRM Spirit Seeds: A celebration of Indigenous beadwork.
https://narmassociation.org/spirit-seeds-a-celebration-of-indigenous-beadwork/
Native Tech. (n.d.) Native American Technology and Art. https://www.nativetech.org/
Parker, Caroline. (Nov 21, 2022). Sampson County students learn about Indigenous history through art. EdNC. https://www.ednc.org/sampson-schools-nc-indigenous-history-coharie-tribe-art-lesson/
Richardson, Gregory. (Fall 2005). American Indian Tribes in North Carolina. NCpedia. https://www.ncpedia.org/tribes
Sutton, S. (2019). Craftwork techniques of the Native Americans. Crazy Crow Trading Post.
The Wandering Bull LLC. (2019, June 7). Beaded Rosette – How to make. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6DTvki18Ag&t=875s
The Wandering Bill LLC. (2019, April 1). Peyote stitch – how to bead. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAFlz_UQDxQ&list=PLTdFrjL8FbbiMD_6L-q7Q-vLM6cHrGBg7
Wright-McLeod, Brian. (Jan 1, 2020) Beadwork revival a life’s journey for artist Naomi Smith. Anishinabek News. https://anishinabeknews.ca/2020/01/01/beadwork-revival-a-lifes-journey-for-artist-naomi-smith/
Zwetolitz, Julia. A History of Native Americans in North Carolina. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. https://www.cmlibrary.org/blog/history-native-americans-north-carolina