Native American Beadwork and Geometry

1. The beauty of Native American beadwork is well-known.
2. We will be using the Cartesian coordinate system during this lesson.
3. Many Native American designs are based on four-fold symmetry, when something is symmetrical on the top and bottom and the left and right.
4. Each image could be placed on a coordinate plane and each quadrant would be the same.
5. The first image is a piece of Plains Indians embroidery.  The second image is a piece of Shoshone beadwork.  The third image is of a Pawnee buffalo hide drum.  The fourth image is a Navajo rug.
6. Reflection symmetry is when something is the same on both sides.
7. Base four counting was very common.  For instance, teepees were often built with four support poles, one in each direction.
8. Four-fold symmetry is used in Navajo sand painting, which is used for healing by the balance of forces.
9. The Yupik make parkas which use a coordinate system to remain symmetrical.
10. Four-fold symmetry is used in beadwork, which is laid out with threads running horizontally and vertically like a coordinate plane.
11. Native American beadwork was created long before Europeans came to America.
12. Wampum beadwork was used to record messages and historic events.