Just 3 weeks ago I traveled to the Spokane Indian Reservation, in Washington State, and taught a bead looming residency for "Culture Week" at the Wellpinit School. It was a wonderful experience! I knew that the kids would be talented, as so many of their elders are already fine bead artists, and they surely were. They "ate up" the beads, and probably used more per student than any group I've taught.
In the picture above, I am demonstrating how to bead across a really wide piece, which a few of them are ready for now!
I was honored to be invited to join in the "gathering" and social dancing at the start of each day, and to attend a special Culture Week pow wow and feast on the last morning. Elders had specially prepared buffalo, salmon, jerky, camas root, moss delicacies (including soup!) and even a frosty 'ice cream' made out of a special plant. It was amazing. Everything was tasty - and I'll bet pretty darn healthy too.
Thanks to everyone I met there: teachers, staff, elders, my hostess, the sponsors, and especially all the great kids!