The floral designs of the Woodland Tribes such as the Ojibwe spread west through the fur trade. The first beads introduced through trade were large beads called “pony beads.” Later, smaller “seed beads” were introduced. Seed beads provided Native Americans the opportunity to expand their designs into much more elaborate works of art. Without the use of seed beads, the floral designs may not have become as intricate as these tiny beads made possible.

Text by Erin Dinsmore