Beadwork is a living art, and the main market for beadwork ornament continues to be Native peoples themselves. They value beadwork items for personal use, dance decoration, and ceremonies. However, non-Native interest in beaded jewelry has grown extensively since the 1960s. Beaded trinkets were considered tourist goods throughout the early-to-mid twentieth century, and such items are still good souvenir purchases. Inter-tribalism has promoted beadwork as well, placing beads on everything from moccasins to tennis sneakers.

Fact: Indian traders establishing themselves around the Navajo reservation bought glass beads from Europe and these became known as trade beads.