Sho-Ban beadworkers stay busy, supplies in demand
Sandra Plentywounds is almost finished beading a women's traditional top.
By DANA HERNANDEZ
Sho-Ban News
FORT HALL — During the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, local beaders have been actively working on their beading projects as a way to pass time as they are ordered to stay home and stay safe.
The Shoshone-Bannock people are known for the quality of their beadwork. Beading itself requires patience, skill, creativity, and supplies.
Buying supplies during the pandemic has been an issue because most stores have temporarily closed their doors. Usually, beaders work with certain sizes, cuts, and colors. The Donzia Gift Shop that is located in the Shoshone-Bannock Hotel has been temporarily closed since March 20, and they are one of the suppliers for local beaders.
The Blue Corner Store, which is part of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Enterprises is currently the only store that is open and sells beading supplies as well as beaded items. Speaking with Curtis Suetopka who is manager of The Blue Corner Store, said he has noticed that a lot of purchasers have been increasing their quantities. “The people who normally buy a few hanks are coming in and buying a lot more than usual and that’s probably because we are told to stay home,” said Suetopka. He also said they haven’t been selling a lot of beadwork items, and the few that they’ve sold were the smaller beaded items.
Suetopka said the Donzia Gift Shop will be buying items from artists April 23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a break from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., and the buying will take place at the Blue Corner Store.
A local bead supplier, beader, and traditional dancer, Sandra Plentywounds who is known for setting up shop and selling a wide array of beads at various powwows has said she’s noticed that more people are buying beads locally and also from across the country. The buying has been a mix between buying in bulk and in buying only several hanks of beads for their projects. She said she has shipped beads as far as North Dakota and Wisconsin for those that are in search of a specific color and size that they need.
Plentywounds says beaders have been reaching out to December and her when they are looking to purchase beads. Currently, she is carrying and selling the following: size 13 cut, size 11 cut, size 11 seed bead, size 10 seed bead, size 9 three cut.
She is also close to completing a fully beaded women’s traditional top that was an order for one of her family members. Plentywounds said she did most of the work for it just recently as the pandemic has allowed her to finish her bigger projects. “I call it my COVID-19 project,” she says.
Tribal member, Louise Dixey is another local beader who said she started beading at age 10, while staying with her maternal grandparents for the summer breaks. Her grandmother Nettie Diggie Racehorse taught her how to make moccasins, hides, and to flat and peyote stitch. She made a fully beaded buckskin dress for her daughter Lizzie, which took her about five years to complete.
Louise Dixey's women's traditional top.
Currently Dixey is making another women’s top for her granddaughter Kaycee, and has started the edging for the back and is working on edging the front. She says, she started putting together the backing for another buckskin dress but did not have time to do much, so she started edging. Most of her supplies have been purchased locally. The background beads come from the Donzia Gift Shop, with the rest from the Blue Corner Store. “This time off has allowed me to spend more time sewing,” said Dixey.
Rashele Nagashoah says she started beading at eight years old. Her grandmother Lucille Pocatello taught her. “A lot of my suppliers are from powwows and people who knew her. I have a lot of respect for our elders and prefer to use handmade materials rather than commercial, like the vinyl backing,” says Nagashoah.
Usually, she said her supplies would be purchased at Donzia and the Blue Corner Store, and whatever else she cannot find, she buys online. She said before the pandemic her and her family would travel to Utah for supplies. “They carry the tube beads that are in high demand online for my orders and the workers there are always nice and helpful.” She also buys locally, from Native suppliers such as Indigenous Supplies and Apatura Beads. She purchases her hides from local hide maker and seller Rhonda Faulkner who she says, does excellent work.
Beaded men's apron & cuffs made by Rashele Nagashoah.
Nagashoah says she has a lot of projects going on at the moment and has recently taught her boyfriend, Kevin Toane how to bead. “He helps me with my designs and in assembling bling and banding. We both learned how to do the beaded wrap method of keychains through watching YouTube videos.
Nagashoah is currently working on a coin purse order that was recently put in, and she also does the smaller projects at the same time such as earrings and keychains. She is also working on a larger project that is a fully beaded cape, apron, cuffs, and side drops that she is making for Jr. Lonelodge. “This project has taken me over two years and is done is solid size 11 cut beads. I rely on my funds made from my projects to buy groceries and hygiene products. I see how hard other families have it and I don’t want to utilize them because it can go to others who are less fortunate and the families who need it more,” Nagashoah said.
