Why Blog?

I was a little skeptical about blogging. It seems so pretentious that I felt I shouldn't do it. In my "free time"-like there is much- I have found myself going to Google and doing searches with various terms to see what appears. I use Native American beadwork, American Indian beadwork, beadwork... etc. I just want to see what is out there and what is genuine. My New Years Resolution is to bead everyday (didn't happen), and to help promote and uphold The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990. You can read about this at http://www.doi.gov/iacb/act.html

As an American Indian vendor at powwows, I am highly irritated by the presence of other vendors selling their goods as made by Indians, when in fact it is imported. I won't promote other sites, but if you Google Mayan Beadwork, or Guatemala Beadwork, you will see items that are sold at powwows located along the I-5 Corridor, which is generally Oregon and Washington, I haven't traveled to California for any powwows at the time of this post. My first powwow for 2010 was going to be at the Portland Community College Powwow on January 23, 2010. Our Vendor contract already had the law outlined and I am so proud of them for not letting these misrepresentations be allowed at the powwow.

My goals for this blog are going to be to educate, create open discussions about American Indian Beadwork, the techniques used to create it, tips, tricks, material selection, color selection and photos.