Beads: Symbols of Indigenous Cultural Resilience and Value

My intention for this paper is to explore the cultural relevance of the influence that beads have had on Indigenous people in North America. By exploring the inherent cultural values that beads possess in Indigenous culture, I hope to illuminate how beads have come to represent Indigenous resiliency after the effects of colonialism and the residential school system. I aim to illustrate how important this art form has been in the past and will continue to be in the future. Beads should not be portrayed as simple trinkets that Indigenous people have sought to trade in the past, instead, they are integral elements to the greater Indigenous society both prior to and concurrent with European contact. Beads are playing an integral role in repairing cultural ties and spiritual beliefs to Indigenous artists. Beadwork has been, and will continue to be significant in representing Indigenous resiliency as well as highlighting the distinct cultural value of Indigenous peoples.M.A