Native Discovery - Artists Performers and Guides

Beauty and art have played a large role in the day-to-day lives of Lakota people for millennia. Designs that focused on originality, harmony, emotional and aesthetic impact, symbolism, and skill have been found in and around the homes of Lakota from before Western contact up to the present day. That creativity and blurring of the line between art and every day can be seen today in art forms from beadwork and quillwork to woodcarvings and star quilts.

The earliest forms of traditional arts were painted designs on parfleche - folded containers made from the hide of large animals - and the use of dyed and wrapped or tacked porcupine quills on many items such as clothing and ceremonial objects. These techniques and styles can still be seen today and are often passed along within families from generation to generation. Today, quillwork is seen as earrings and other jewelry, on pipe bags, moccasins, dance regalia, and many other places.

Beadwork is most often associated with the Lakota and other Native American groups, but is a more recent media that Lakota artists have embraced and made their own. Beads were introduced to the Northern Plains in the 19th century, and many of the techniques and patterns used in quillwork were modified for use in beading items ranging from ceremonial to utilitarian. Color combinations and preferences have changed constantly over the years, but many families still use the same patterns that have been used for centuries. Modern styles, markets, and trends have expanded the use of the beadwork to items such as watch bands, key chains, barrettes, jewelry, clothing and footware, quilts and blankets, carvings and sculptures, drum and dance regalia, prints and paintings, weapons, home décor, and baby gifts.

Another more modern form of Lakota art is the star quilt, which incorporates traditional ideas of color and design along with the functionality of a usable blanket. Learning from the Amish while attending boarding schools in the 19th and early 20th centuries, Lakota women brought the star quilt back to the reservations and became an outlet for traditional artistic values. Today star quilts are a vital part of the modern Lakota culture and are a vibrant art form.

Native American art is packed with history and breathtaking beauty. Discover the wondrous heritage of the Lakota people through their art.