The Virtual Bead Loom

Native American Beadwork is known to be very beautiful, but it is also mathematical.  This is because the elaborate beadwork is made by using the coordinate plane.  The key concept that we will be using in this lesson is using software to create a design by using the “Cartesian coordinate system.”  The type of symmetry that these Native American designs are based on is called “four-fold symmetry.”  Some characteristics that these four images have in common are that they have shapes, are symmetrical, are bright and use dark colors, as well, and could be divided into four sections; each section being symmetrical (four-fold symmetry).  The four images in the website are called “Embroidery, Plain Indians”, “Shoshone Beadwork”, “Pawnee Buffalo Hide Drum”, and “Navajo rug.”  Another symmetry used in this beadwork is called reflection symmetry.  Reflection symmetry is when one half of an image is the mirror image of the other half of the image.  One example of base four counting in Native American culture that is common is that in many native languages, base four counting is used.  In the Navajo culture, reflection symmetry is used.  An example is that sand paintings often use reflection symmetry to show the paired forces that is part of the Navajo religion.  Another example of how four-fold symmetry is shown and used is in Yupika parka decoration.  The parkas need to be symmetric so they developed a coordinate system that involved measuring vertical and horizontal distance on the parka.  A bead loom is machine that can create a four-fold system.  The bead loom utilizes a Cartesian coordinate system.  The beads are in rows and columns, like the x-axis and the y-axis.  Native American beadwork was developed before the Europeans arrived.  Two examples of where these designs were used are seen in wampum belts and beadwork.  Beadwork was also used to record messages and historic events.