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Jodi Rave: Montana family preserves beading
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Filed Under: Arts & Entertainment


"If it exists, or can be imagined, it can be beaded. So says Salish beader Karen Kapi.

A man once challenged her: I know something you can’t bead. A naked lady.

A few days later, Karen presented him with a beaded belt buckle. It had a beautiful, discreetly naked lady with flowing black hair modestly covering her voluptuous body. The man wore the buckle faithfully - until someone stole it. He pleaded for Karen to bead the woman again.

No, she said. Some things are meant to be originals, meaning no duplicates, ever. Sometimes, it just depends.

Still, Karen remains up to the challenge of all beading requests. And the demand for her labor-intensive skill and valued time never wanes. One morning this past week, Karen sat with family members and beaded in The People's Center, the Salish and Kootenai tribes' cultural museum on the Flathead Reservation. On this day, five generations of her family were present, ranging from Karen's 85-year-old mother, Margaret Coffee, to two great-grandchildren, 7-month-old Anjaleah Sheridan and 3-year-old Iggy Pierre.

Karen works full time at the The People's Center, where she and women in her family demonstrate beadwork to tourists. The women also gather at the center and teach tribal members who want to learn the art of beading.

'They're passing on their talents and teaching others,' said Marie Torosian, the center's education director. 'They've taught me some tricks with my beadwork.'"

Get the Story:
Jodi Rave: A stitch over time: For generations, a Salish family preserves a tradition (The Missoulian 1/29)

Relevant Links:
Jodi Rave - http://www.missoulian.com/jodirave

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