Alaskan Beading

Navigating Ambiguous Waters

Beaded baby belt that features multiple agencies that manage the natural resources of Alaska along a topographic map of an Alaska river. Backing is made of tanned moose leather. Management agencies featured from left to right include: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), US. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG), National Park Service, Alaska Department of Natural Resources (ADNR), and US Forrest Service. Tassels are made from glass and bone trade beads from my grandmother's collection; yarn is from my mother's weaving collection.

US FWS Sugpiaq headdress

Uniform hat of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service used to create a beaded Sugpiaq headdress using the traditional red, white, and black coloration. Headdress includes glass and bone trade beads from my grandmother's collection featuring the United States coloration of red, white, and blue.

Miscellaneous Shellfish

Beaded leather bag of a Tlingit formline octopus with moose leather backing and purple leather tassels. The ADF&G classifies octopus as an miscellaneous shellfish for state management purposes along with other shellfish: sea urchins, sea cucumbers, starfish, and geoducks.

Wolverine Bag

Beaded leather bag of a tanned wolverine paw with claws on moose leather with beaded red strap..

Miscellaneous Shellfish II

When discussing Alaska's shellfish, most individuals think of king crab and shrimp. However, there are many other important shellfish species in Alaska such as scallops, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, squid and octopus. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game defines these species "miscellaneous shellfish" in state regulations.

The piece Miscellaneous Shellfish highlights one of these classified shellfish, the Giant Pacific Octopus. The stylized form line illustrates all eight of the animals arms with circular abalone shell buttons as the octopus's suckers.

Beaver Bag

Beaded moose leather bag with beaver fur trim, beaded swimming beaver on the front, and tanned beaver tail on the back of the bag.

Black Bear Bag

Beaded bag with moose leather base, black bear paw front with claws attached, and whole tanned ermine trim.

Bureau Of Land Management

The piece features a trophy style presentation of the BLM patch on moose hide with beaded borders and tassels. The piece is a witticism of trophy mounts and jumping through the many hurdles of regulatory permitting. Many people mount their prize moose rack that finally was greater then 60 inches. The trophy mount not only celebrates the achievement of the hunter, actively celebrates the moose itself. The piece "Bureau of Land Management" is an celebration of both the displayed agency and the resource users of Alaska.

Family Management

Paired set of beaded gloves that features both state and federal wildlife management agencies in the state: Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Government Hands

My father's old tanned moose hide working gloves. I beaded these gloves with the Alaska State Troopers and ADF&G logos that he worked with as a Alaska Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Officer.

Athabaskan Beading Examples

Daisies

Dark Blue

Light Blue

Blue Shades

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