Long before contact between European and Native American cultures, Native Americans used natural objects such as bone, semi-precious stones, shells, quills, and feathers to decorate artifacts of great beauty and originality.

When trade beads were introduced, many tribes quickly saw that their arts could be enhanced by these colorful glass beads. Over the centuries, the use of trade beads resulted in the creation of patterns typical of the Native Americans who created them and the part of the continent where they lived.

Beading was used to decorate everything from clothing to ceremonial objects. Valued by Native Americans and collected by some non-Native Americans, the beauty and originality of Native American beadwork as an art form was slower to be recognized by Western society than some other Native American arts.

Today, museums and collectors across the United States recognize and collect quality Native American beadwork by contemporary artists. Many of these artists now give this traditional craft a unique look by combining old and new. They may use high-quality glass beads, or combine glass beads with crystals and natural gemstones. Coyote's Game is proud to offer a sampling of both traditional and modern Native American beadwork.

Coyote's Game offers a wide selection of Native American beaded jewelry and items from tribes across the United States. Browsing through our beadwork sections will show you many different styles of beadwork-from lane stitching to peyote stitch to loomed bead work, in both modern and traditional patterns.

Our beaded earrings include work by recognized Santo Domingo-Creek-Seminole artist LeJune Chavez, as well as unique hex bead earrings by White Earth Anishinaabe artist Peggy LaRoque. We have beaded pyramid earrings, tassel earrings, loop earrings, dream catcher earrings and many more.

If you're looking for a beaded hat band, Coyote's Game is the place to start. Our bead work hat bands come in all colors and prices. We offer a large selection of fine loomed hat bands by Navajo artist Sheri Jackson, Comanche Jr. Weryackwe and others.

A Native American beaded belt is an accessory to be treasured and worn for years. The work of recognized Comanche cut bead artist Jr. Weryackwe is featured in our beaded belts department, along with unusual beaded belts by Navajo Nora Johnson and others.

In the Coyote's Game beaded bracelets and necklaces sections you'll find the work of Navajo Mary E. Tsosie, who makes beaded rug pattern necklaces, and the highly original floral style cuffs made by Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe artist Virginia Chosa.

There are beaded barrettes and hair ornaments, beaded purses and pouches from skilled beaders of many different tribes as well as unusual beaded items such as beaded lanyards, key holders, beaded chamois baby moccasins made by Ojibwe Yolanda Siegfried, check book covers by Anishinaabe beader Janet Oshkinowe-Neumann, and beaded pouches by Sioux Theda LeBeau.

The charm of Native American beadwork is in the brilliant colors and the sparkle or shine any light casts on smooth or faceted beads. Unfortunately, scanners and computer imaging do not yet have the quality to capture the depth of color or the sparkle. We ask our visitors to use their imaginations when looking at the beadwork in this section. Make the colors deeper. Make them glow and sparkle and you'll know what these items really look like.

All of the items in this section are made by individuals or families and are mostly one of a kind, since this is part of the American Indian crafts tradition. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about individual items, and, on request, to provide more, or larger pictures of one or two items.

We encourage you to email us with any questions you may have about our merchandise.