Artistic Traditions

Quillwork
Quillwork is one of the oldest forms of embellishment used by the People of the Plains. Quills were dyed, folded, twisted, wrapped, plaited and sewn using a wide range of techniques to decorate articles of clothing, bags, knife sheaths, baskets, wooden handles and pipe stems. It was a specialized society, with only certain women who had undergone specific ceremonies and training, permitted to do quillwork.

There are four sizes of quills found on a porcupine. The large, coarse quills from the tail are best for filling in large areas, wrapping handles, pipe stems or fringes. Quills from the back of the porcupine were used on small, narrow looms. The fine quills from the neck were used for “embroidery” and the thinnest quills found near the belly were used for delicate lines.

The quill-worker flattened the quills between her teeth or with a quill flattener. Quills were then dyed and sorted by colour. Plants and berries were used to create natural dyes with colours reflecting the hues and tones of the earth. After contact with Europeans, colours were sometimes achieved by boiling quills with woolen trade cloth. After 1880, aniline dyes became available and a wider range of colours was possible.

Quills were applied by sewing them onto buckskin in various designs. Wrapping, braiding, and weaving were the various techniques used to apply the quills. The small bow loom was used for weaving.

Beadwork

Artifacts courtesy of the Glenbow Museum
Collection, Calgary, Alberta

After 1840, when European traders dominated the Plains region, beadwork became popular among the Plains tribes. The first beads that the traders brought came from factories in Venice, Italy and were quite large. Native people prized Glass beads, as they resembled many items of the natural world, such as seeds or berries. As beads traveled along the trade networks, they acquired various meanings and stories.

Stylistic differences of beadwork based on design and colour became very distinct among the many tribal groups. Initially, geometric designs were most common among the plains tribes, a carry-over from working with quills. Floral and realistic patterns became more popular and were adopted by certain tribes, such as the Woodland Cree.

The most popular beading techniques are embroidery and loom beading. Four methods of beadwork are commonly used: the loom, lazy stitch, rosettes and appliqué. Beads were strung onto twisted sinew or cord made of plant, bark and roots. Although European threads were available through trade, native people preferred to use natural cords, which were of a much higher quality and very durable.

Beadwork is still practiced extensively today.