authentic Apache Craft loom beaded maturity dance motif medallion necklace 637

Description

Apache Fair Trade Cooperative, Inc
Artisan
: Cheryl Pahe: She is a San Carlos Apache Tribal member and resides on the Reservation.
I am a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, Peridot District. I started beading for my daughters’ barrettes, necklaces, & buckskin outfit. No one in my family beads, I learned on my own. I worked at Indian Hospital Service at San Carlos Reservation. Making and selling crafts helps me extra money for my big family. I am in peace when I make crafts. The beads color represents the color of the Arizona, the turquoise, blue sky, magnificent sunset and various sand stone colors.
Materia
l: The beading is done on the loom and then sewn to the buckskin. She used glass seed beads.
Size
:  The beaded area is 4.5 inches width and the length is 4 inches. The total length with buckskin tie is 25” each.
Culture
: This medallion necklace is depicting the San Carlos Apache Sunrise dance or Maturity dance. When the girl start period, family prepare for the ceremony. They choose Godmother. The Montain Spirit dancers (like angels) arrive and bless the girl and the ceremony.
The merchants who came with the conquistadores brought colorful beads and traded with the Natives. Because of the brightness of the colors, the indigenous people created jewelry and adorned their bodies with them. Then they began decorating household items and other things with the beads.
Authenticity
:  This craft is bought by the Apache Fair Trade Cooperatives, Inc. (AFTCO) which is a nonprofit organization founded to help San Carlos and White Mountain Tribes' economy. The authenticity of this craft is certified by AFTCO.