subeeds

Since I am also a member of the Bead and Button forum, I get a monthly email news letter that highlights some of the things in the magazine. This caught my attention and I thought I would pass it on. It's on behalf of The Nations of the Native West Center.
"Carol-Scott Simard is a longtime beader and an AmeriCorps-Vista volunteer in Blanding, Utah.Carol writes:"I am in an area known as the Four Corners. It is hme to the Ute and Navaho Nations. Many local trading posts have closed or no longer carry beading supplies. The senior citizens and the children to whom they will pass the craft of beadwork have trouble traveling vast distances to bead stores. The traditional beadwork done by the elders is breathtaking. If you have beads left over from projects, would you consider donating them to Nations of the Native West Cultural Center? We also need thread and needles. The Nations of the Native West is a 501(c)3 organization. My thanks to any of you who who could help our project." The address for sending the donations is in care of Carol Scott-Simard, Nations of the Native West, 707 West 500 South, Blanding, Utah 84511; 435-678-2626.

between2worlds

Here's an idea... if you're like me and no bead is truly "left-over" why not send a gift certificate?

Fire Mountain Gems (for instance) has various sizes of gift certificates. If you're interested here's the link : http://www.firemountaingems.com/gift...es/default.asp

Blackbear

dang.. that's one heck of a good idea there B2W I did'nt know that the navajo were in Utah as well though....

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Don't worry that it's not good enough for anyone else to hear... just sing, sing a song.

between2worlds

Neither did I but here are a couple of links:

http://www.americansouthwest.net/utah/monument_valley/
http://www.utah.com/tribes/navajo_main.htm

turtleclaninc

Sekoh
It's good to see people here who care about the needs of others. In my younger days i helped with a out reach program here helping Native peoples incarcerated most of them from problems stemmed from drug or alcohol issues. one of the programs we supplied bead materials. the beadwork allowed them to reconnect to thier tribal ways express themselves through the arts and regain thier Native pride. as i have said before it's funny how such a little thing as a seed bead can change the world
Onen

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In Search of the Elusive Government Cheese

between2worlds

Just to add - the Nishnabe word for seed beads is Manidoominens - literally sacred seeds (and is the same word that is used to describe hawthorn fruit). And yes, it is nice to see that "planting sacred seeds" is resulting in good things happening.