Cloth Beadsand

by Sheryl Jensen

grandmother were beadwork artists. I learned from them, and my daughters have learned from me. The project honors that, as women, we were raised to wear skirts, a reminder that women are feminine, beautiful, and respected.”

The three women utilize their mixed media expertise with vintage fabrics and indigenous materials to the Lake Superior region on traditional attire and accessories worn by Native Woodland women of the Great Lakes region.

Sharing Her Legacy

Arts Council Technology / Equipment award.

She sees her work as a connection to both her Anishinaabe/Ojibwe history and to her ancestors. Using hand tanned leather, bones, shells, cotton, wool fabric, ribbon, glass beads, sequins, silver, brass buttons, coins, and mirrors, Delina creates and decorates stunning clothing and accessories such as pipebags, beaded jewelry, handbags, and baby moccasins.

Delina

White and her two daughters, Lavender Hunt and Sage Davis, have been brought closer together by their shared love of their Native American culture. Creating their Great Lakes Woodland Native Skirt collection has also been a vehicle for their bonding even more with each other and sharing with others their respect for the history of Native American women.

The project includes an exhibit with skirts and beaded accessories, designed and constructed by the three women. It has travelled in a fashion show and narrative program that Delina describes as “preserving our distinct styles, material forms of art, and showing their vital importance to human beings of all cultures.”

Delina shares, “This is part of who we are as a family. My mother and

An enrolled member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, Delina lives on the Leech Lake Reservation. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Bemidji State University in business administration with an emphasis in management, with a minor in management information systems.

As a result of her incredible work with traditional Woodland style beadwork, Delina has been the recipient of many awards including: the 2010 Bush Foundation Fellowship; the 2014 Five Wings Arts Council Community Arts Leadership award; the 2015 Folk and Traditional Arts award from the MN State Arts Board; the 2015 Native Arts & Culture Foundation fellowship; and the 2015 Arrowhead Regional

Delina hopes that this experience and the clothing and accessories in the collection that she and her daughters continue to create “will provide a deeper cultural experience among younger generations and broaden the awareness and access to the beauty and richness of traditional Native culture through the arts.”

Barbie Dolls to Heirlooms

Lavender, Delina’s eldest daughter, is also an enrolled member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe and lives on the Leech Lake Reservation. She received her degree in Culinary Arts from the LeCordon Bleu College of Minneapolis. Native dancing has been an important part of her life;

Continued on page 10 she is a champion dancer in both the United States and Canada in the categories of Contemporary and Old Style Jingle Dress.

Lavender shares, “It started with my Barbie dolls and wanting them to wear Native clothing. I would use my mother’s beads and sequins. When I saw my mother working on her beadwork, I wanted to do it too. We were all raised as dancers and were excited to wear the extravagant beaded outfits. I am especially pleased when I can make a little girl’s first jingle dress, knowing that I have made an heirloom piece.”

Passing both the techniques and love of the clothing and accessories on is also important to Lavender who has three children: Snowy, age 10; Miskwakone, age 9; and Isabella, age 7. Lavender is expecting a fourth child in May.

In making medallions for jewelry, baby bonnets, men’s side drops, earrings, royalty trophies, among many other pieces, Lavender has taken a modern sensibility combined with ancient techniques in her work. “The traditional style of my beadwork is influenced by my mother and my grandmother, combined with a more contemporary use of colors and materials with my own original designs.”

The legacy of the skirt has also been meaningful for her. “I remember my first ribbon skirt and how important it was for my grandmother to make it for me. I felt beautiful in my skirt, and I want other women to feel beautiful in their skirts, too. This project is my way of giving back for all that I have learned.”

Connection to Nature

Sage has one son, Miskwaate, age 5. Of her beaded work which include earrings, leggings, moccasins, and medallions, she notes, “I would describe my artwork as traditional, while incorporating sparkling jewels and real gemstones to make it relevant in the contemporary market. I have a tendency to make white flowers, and my favorite pieces are leaves because I like to use as many shades of green as possible!”

She adds, “For some reason, when I’m making flowers and leaves, I envision rain and morning dew drops. For me, it’s a spiritual connection between women and water. That is my contribution to the important message that we must take care of our mother the earth.”

Sage finds that sharing the love for this work with her mother and sister has added to its meaning and importance for her. “That is what makes it fun, to see our similar yet different styles work together cohesively, resulting in an exquisite finished work of art.”

Inspirations

“While we work separately at our homes, we shop together for fabrics and materials. We love seeing how naturally our visions come together to make elegant skirts and beaded jewelry. We do inspire each other, and we hope we inspire others to keep these traditions a part of our culture,” says Delina. D

A quote on their webpage sums up the three women’s connection and belief:

She explains the connection of the clothing and beading to children. “In our culture babies are loved so much. To give the baby sterling silver rattles, cradle boards, and beaded moccasins, shows that love.” Often these items become family heirlooms kept for safe keeping until the children are grown and have children of their own.

An enrolled member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe who also lives on the Leech Lake Reservation, Sage has a bachelor’s degree in communications, media and rhetoric from the University of Minnesota – Morris, and a master’s degree in education from the University of Minnesota – Duluth. She holds a MN eminence licensure for teaching American Indian language and culture.

“Nin zaagiiaag sa miigiwe aang enwe aang biizikonan miiniwa manidoominensag.”

“We love sharing our way of life through cloth and beads.”

For more information on their collections of one-of-a-kind items and the making of custom pieces, visit their website at iamanishinaabe.com