On Nov. 17, the Native American Student Association hosted a traditional necklace making event in the Kansas 2 room of the Overman Student Center. During the event, organizers showed a guide on how to make the necklaces, officially called “bone necklaces.” There were multiple different colors to choose from at the event. One of the difficult parts of the process was the thread fraying while working on the necklaces. The event not only drew in members of NASA, but also alumnae and other students.
President of NASA Vada Cass, a sophomore majoring in psychology, said that the organization had wanted to do an event for a while that would introduce Native American culture to Pitt State students.
“We have been thinking about it for a while,” Cass said. “I am Native American, I’m Osage, so I wanted something to remind me from back home, and I thought bringing it here would help people, and introduce our culture, just show that there’s a lot of beautiful jewelry with the Native Americans.”
Cass said that the jewelry is significant across Native American cultures and is worn by both men and women. She said that she is impressed by the things that people can make.
“It was originally worn by women in Powwows, or Native American traditional dances, so it’s actually universal,” Cass said. “Women and men can wear them; it doesn’t really matter. I think it’s really beautiful that we have this kind of jewelry that we can hand make and you don’t have to buy from the store. Obviously, you can buy from Native American stops but it’s honestly just amazing to see what everyone can make.”
Supplies needed include scissors, brass beads, bone, lighter, buckskin, thread, and plastic or glass beads.
NASA member Ashleigh Hartley, a freshman majoring in accounting, said she came to the event because she wanted to help and make a necklace herself.
“I helped out with it, and I really wanted to make a Bone Necklace,” Hartley said.
The bone necklace has come in different forms, one of the most prominent being a choker. The choker symbolized strength, identity, and spiritual protection. Often worn by warriors as a form of protection, it is also honored. The animals the bones were taken from are often seen as containing the spirit of the animal. Different animals and colors represent different meanings and are of great importance. Many of these necklaces are still made today and can be found at Native American shops or made at home.