Native bead art dates back to the early 1800s, when glass beads were introduced as trade goods. Those beads quickly became an artistic medium for generations of Native artists.

At the Montana Folk Festival, mother-daughter team Ennie Raya and Carla Linsebigler showcase their beadwork, carrying on a ...

As the cost of imported seed beads climbs, Indigenous beadworkers in Montana say the tradition — and the livelihood — won’t be abandoned.