Other Native American Jewelry Traditions

The MicMac tribe of northern Maine/Canada used a variety of animal parts including bones, claws, antler, feathers, teeth, hides and porcupine quills.

Native American chokers, made of deerskins, antler and bear claws, were used in battles and are worn at powwows and sacred tribal ceremonies. Wristbands crafted by MicMac used porcupine quills, horn and bone hairpipe, deer antler and deerskin lacing. They have been making Bear Claw necklaces for many years. In myths, legends and lore, the black bear is special and has great spiritual power. The Bear Claw necklace, it is believed, will protect and bring good health to the person wearing it.

California Indian jewelry was made traditionally out of abalone, dentalium and other shells as well as pine nuts, porcupine quills, cedar and juniper berries. They have a strong beadwork tradition.

The Shoshone tribe used elk ivory and bison teeth. Ivories were rare and hard to come by, so like precious stones that were saved for adornment, they were sewn onto dresses for decoration. However, necklaces made from these materials are gorgeous.

Quinault Indians of Alaska used bone and ivory.

Northwest Coast Indians jewelry included Ivory earrings, Ivory necklaces, Ivory barrettes, Caribou Antler earrings, Caribou Antler necklaces, Caribou Antler barrettes, Caribou Antler and Ivory cabochons, and leather bags.

Visit Ancient Ways. They have an interesting selection of traditional Arapaho and Shoshoni beaded jewelry--check their Amulets, Beadwork, and Ivory pages to see different Native American jewelry styles.

GrantDial.com. Grant Dial is a tribal member of the Lumbee Nation and lives in North Carolina. The majority of the jewelry on this site is done in Quahog or "Wampum" as many people referred to it. Their mission is to provide an authentic, handmade piece of art work that you will cherish for years to come. Each piece reflects time, effort and traditions in every item created. When you buy Grant Dial jewelry, you are buying something from the Dial family and there is pride in that fact. Their jewelry contains mainly Turquoise, Wampum, Coral. Turquoise rings, Wampum Belts, or Squash Blossom Necklace.

Redthunder Designs represents different artists from the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Oglala Sioux Tribe and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. All products are made by Native American Indian artists. Redthunder Designs is a Native American-owned business from the Rosebud Sioux reservation in South Dakota

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