Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Teacher Guide | Credits
Native American Quilting Traditions
Your job in particular, as the Native American specialist, is to research Native American quilts. You will be finding your way to the sites listed below and reading about the origin of quilting for this culture well as about the traditions of quilting. There will be questions at the end of each site. Answering these questions will help you remember the information you need. Some of the sites will include pictures of Native American quilts. You will want to look carefully at these in order to get some ideas for when you begin creating the group patch.
1. Our Quilting History -- Native American Quilts
- How did the quilting tradition become a part of Native American communities? Who introduced Native Americans to quilting?
- Notice the differences brought to traditional Native American quilting by the Hopi people. What were two of these differences?
- Carefully read the section of this site dedicated to Star Quilts. These quilts have special significance to Native Americans.
- Important ideas found in this site: the different cultures of Native Americans are represented through their artwork i.e. quilting. Quilts are given as gifts at several different occasions. Gift giving is an important part of most Native American communities.
2. Hopi Quilts
- How did the Hopi tradition of quilting evolve?
- Why might someone who knows about the Hopi culture find it odd that the women make the quilts?
- The quilting tradition has become more than just creating beautiful quilts. What are some of the other traditions quilts are associated with?