Reviving tradition: sewing, beading skills shared
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ST IGNATIUS – It’s catching on again.
“We are seeing a resurgence of interest in culture and traditional sewing,” said Myrna DuMontier, cultural coordinator for the Salish Kootenai Tribes.
With that observation, DuMontier organized Traditional Sewing Nights where sewing experts share their skills, like how to make the jingles on a jingle dress, how to sew moccasins together or how to anchor beads to a piece of buckskin and make it last a lifetime.
“We want to make ourselves available and share what we know so it can be passed on. If people want to learn we can teach them or if they just want to watch someone make moccasins they can. They can also come share what they know,” DuMontier said.
The group gathered for the second time at the St. Ignatius Community Center last Saturday. The first meeting was held late last month in Arlee.
“We want to ignite each community to start their own group and expand knowledge of traditional sewing,” she said.
Mary Jane Charlo brought her sewing machine to demonstrate how to make ribbon shirts.
“Many people want to do this but they don’t know how and it can be hard to learn from a book,” she said explaining that she was willing to help if someone wanted to learn to sew.
Sewing takes patience and time.
“To keep the culture alive, you have to choose to do it. We live our culture. We work it. You have to make time for it,” Charlo said.
And people are finding the time.
“Sewing is the new alternative. It used to be a way of life. Sports, TV and other things got in the way. Now that sewing is something different – because not many people do it – more people are getting interested and taking the time to learn.”
Sewing was traditionally a winter activity.
“When you couldn’t go outside, you would sew. The winter is also a time for telling stories and sharing. In these groups, we are sharing and sewing. We may be sharing pictures off Facebook but it’s still sharing.”
Geraldine Vallee Owen worked on a pair of child’s buckskin moccasins during the meeting.
“My son-in-law got the deer and tanned the hide so I have this buckskin. I measure out the foot and then cut the buckskin. Before I sew them together, I do the beadwork,” Owen said. She’s taught many people how to bead. It helps to start with something small.
“I’m 83 years old,” Owen said. “I started beading 20 years ago after my kids were out of the house. I never had time before that but it’s never too late to learn.”
The next Traditional Sewing Night starts at 1 p.m. in Pablo at the People’s Center on Friday, Feb. 7. Contact Myrna DuMontier for more information at (406) 676-4509.
The group meets again on Sunday, Feb. 9 at the Arlee Community Center from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Limited materials are available. Bring a project you'd like to share or need help with.
The group is sponsored by CSKT Head Start, Tribal Social Service's program Circle of Trust, The Parenting Partnership Project and the Tribal Social Services. For more information, contact Tribal Social Services at (406) 675-2700 ex. 1333 or Head Start at (406) 676-4509.
