Plains
Woman Bartering
by Barbara Sullivan
Print Editions Coming Soon
See Where to Buy
On the Cheyenne River in South Dakota, a Plains Indian
woman is watering her horse. Another approaches and offers
her some pony beads in exchange for a fur. She will make
warm leggings, from the fur, for winter. Beads are worn as
decorations, woven into belts, leggings, headdresses,
moccasins, other articles of dress and ceremonial pieces.
Pony bead was popular among the Plains Indians as it was
twice the size of the seed bead. It was made in Venice,
Italy and was known as the pony bead because it was brought
overland by pony pack trains. —Barbara
Sullivan