The Spirit of Beads: Sharing our Stories
Дух намистин: нанизуючи перекази
Manidoominensag ezhi-bimaadiziwaad:
Ni-wiindamaagemin ndibaajimowininaanan

This exhibition is co-presented by the Ukrainian Museum of Canada, Ontario Branch and the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto.

The Spirit of Beads: Sharing our Stories focuses on beadwork and its significance, examining the similarities and differences in techniques, motifs, and symbolism among the many types of traditional Indigenous and Ukrainian beadwork. It addresses the history of the bead trade in North America and Ukraine, tracing the origin of beads from natural materials such as stones, shells, and bones, to commercially-manufactured beads. The Spirit of Beads: Sharing our Stories includes a selection of many forms of beadwork, including clothing, necklaces, pendants, and earrings. Displays feature modern pieces of beadwork from contemporary artists alongside historical objects from Ukrainian Museum of Canada, Ontario Branch and the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, demonstrating how modern beadwork re-invents and expresses past and present understandings of cultural identity.

The name of this exhibition is derived from the Ojibwe word “manidoomin”, meaning “beads”, which is often translated in English as “spirit berries”. In Ojibwe, nouns are classified as either animate or inanimate. Beads are regarded as animate because of their ability to encode deep meaning and significance. The Naskapi in Quebec were some of the first Indigenous people in Canada to encounter seed beads while trading with Europeans, and they referred to them as “gifts from the spirit world.” There is a similar emphasis on the cultural and spiritual importance of beadwork in the Ukrainian tradition, in which beads have deep symbolic significance as objects of wealth, power, and protection.

In both cultures, beads are used to depict relationships with the natural world and important value systems that are integral to the livelihood of their people. Contemporary artists continue to use beadwork as a powerful medium that represents the resilience of their culture and its enduring vibrance. In many cases, creating beadwork is an opportunity for contemporary artists to connect with their ancestors and family members, bringing people together and sustaining traditional values and beliefs. 

Featured Artists

• Naomi Smith

• Katie Longboat

• Maria Rypan

• Dave Melnychuk

• Anna Harasym

• Maria Harasym

THE SPIRIT OF BEADS: SHARING OUR STORIES

SPEAKER SERIES

CLICK ON THE IMAGE
to view the recordings of the Speaker Series for this exhibit.

Tour Compatibility

This tour is best accessed, using current version of Apple Safari 14.0 or Google Chrome.

This Interactive Virtual Tour has been made possible through the generosity of Ukrainian Museum of Canada, Ontario Branch members Anna Harasym and Andrew Waller.

Our museum relies on the support of our volunteers and donations. If you enjoyed this tour, we hope you will consider making a donation so that we can create more content like this in the future. Thank you.