Beads were one of the most important trade items acquired by Native Americans from the early European fur traders. The Sioux people soon became masters at the art of beadwork. But before European beads were here (glass beads from Venice, Italy; silver and brass from Germany) the Sioux and other tribes used things they found in Nature to ornament their clothing and everyday utensils. The Sioux people used porcupine quills dyed in bright colors and woven into intricate designs. Also bones, stones (like turquoise and coral used by Southwestern tribes), shells, animal teeth, claws that were often wore in necklaces to show proof of a hunter's powers. Small animal bones were polished and shaped into tapered cylinders called hairpipe bone and used for neck chokers and breastplates. Sea shells, the most common material used for handmade beads, have been important Native regional trade items for thousands of years.
Since the 1960's, modern beadwork such as watchbands, purses, belts, etc, have been imitated in oriental factories and imported very cheaply. This brought a competition with high-quality beadwork of Native American artists. A U.S.General accounting office study done in the mid 80's indicated that Native American artists have lost tens of millions of dollars in potential sales (over an 8-year period) to these fake imported items. In the 90's the government passed the Native American Arts And Crafts Act [18USC Sec.1159,1993], which states that it is a federal felony to offer imitations as the product of Native artists.
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