Indigenous Beadwork in Manitoba

The Manitoba Crafts Museum and Ross House Museum gathered and researched over 100 pieces of Indigenous beadwork, embroidery and quillwork from 11 museums in Manitoba.

These were the beadwork pieces that were shown in their award-winning Gathering exhibit.

In the Red River region, the Métis were known for their decorative beadwork.

By the 1830s, vibrant floral designs became evident on Métis products. Beadwork was found on almost every item of traditional Métis clothing and functional hide and cloth work.

The Dakota and Cree referred to the Métis as the “Flower Beadwork People,” citing the prevalence of flower designs in their beadwork and embroidery.

The primary design element on these moccasins is the Dragonfly - said to symbolize protection, good health, and a connection to the spirits of ancestors.

One researcher suggested that the combination of the red dragonfly design and the solid white background might mean that the artist’s family had nehiyawak and Dakota heritage.

The Métis people decorated their moccasins, coats, vests, leggings, belts, bags and mittens with beaded floral patterns. The bags frequently contained family-specific patterns or identifiable colors.

To compliment the Gathering exhibit, MCML programmed workshops to showcase traditional Indigenous knowledge of craft.

Red River-based beadwork artist and designer Cynthia Boehm led participants in a pointed toe moccasin workshop.