Unraveling the History of Haudenosaunee Beadwork and Its Cultural Significance

Haudenosaunee raised beadwork flourished as a tourist trade in the Northeast starting in the 1800s, after the Erie Canal opened. But the art form has long been an integral part of Haudenosaunee culture and identity, and has origins that date much farther back in time. At the New York State Museum and the Iroquois Indian Museums, Haudenosaunee beadworkers and historians reflect on the evolution of the craft.