Typically during graduation se | Video published by Shelby | Lemon8

Typically during graduation season I will be asked to beading several caps. But now all the youngsters in the family are getting older and cap beading has come to a stop. 2023 is the first year in a long time that my family hasn’t called on me to bead. (I’m sure it will pick up again in 4 years once everyone starts finishing college.)

This beaded cap project from last year was a late entry for me. I was asked 3 nights before the graduation ceremony if I could do it; by pure determination and a lot of coffee I was able to make it happen!

We had actually planned months before what colors she wanted and while on a work trip to South Dakota I found the perfect beads. She had planned on beading it herself, but because she was so busy with finals she wasn’t able to.

I’m grateful that she knew she could depend on me to make it happen. It turned out exactly how she had envisioned it. Congratulations to all the graduates! It’s so amazing to see our youth overcome historical traumas and breakdown barriers. Western education is a necessary evil. We have to adapt, learn, outgrow, and heal from colonization for the betterment of our people. "The most dangerous Native is an educated Native."

#nativeamerican #nativewomen #beadwork