Alutiiq people have been making and using pinguat–beads for thousands of years. Some of the most interesting evidence of beads comes from ancient drawings on small stones. These 700-year-old artifacts show faces surrounded by clothing and jewelry. They illustrate that Alutiiq ancestors used beads to make headdresses, earrings, and necklaces and to decorate labrets and clothing. These beads were handmade from shell, bone, ivory, amber, coal, shale, slate, and even fish vertebrae.
In the late 18th century, glass beads manufactured in Europe arrived with Russian traders in large quantities. Alutiiq people used them to adorn clothing and to make dazzling headdresses and jewelry.
Beaded Headdress for a Doll
Outfit your child’s doll with a headdress. This activity uses felt, thread, and plastic beads to create a miniature headdress that fits a Glitter Girls doll. It can be adapted for other dolls. Developed by Kayla McDermott with support from the Munartet project and the Alaska State Council on the Arts.
Other Beading Projects
Learn some basic beading techniques with Kayla Christiansen and use them to create a three-strand tayarnerutaq–bracelet. This is a project for beginners. Beading kits with supplies for this activity are available from the Alutiiq Museum Store.
Kayla Christiansen demonstrates how to make a pair of beaded cuffs based on examples collected on Kodiak in 1872.
Candace Branson demonstrates how to make an uyamillquaq–beaded necklace inspired by one collected in Ugashik about 1880.
Natalia Schneider demonstrates how to make kulunguat–beaded earrings inspired by a pair collected in Ugashik about 1880.
Hanna Sholl demonstrates how to sew a headband and decorate it with beads. The headband can be sized for a child or an adult.
Alutiiq artist June Pardue documented the materials and techniques used to create a set of beaded regalia collected on Kodiak in 1872. The set includes a headdress, a stole, and a pair of cuffs. Learn about the construction of each piece in our pattern book. This resource is for experienced beaders.