Indigenous Rising

Materials:

• Pine Nuts (from large Pine Cones)
• Sand Paper
• Sinew, or string (I prefer sinew)
• Paper Clip
• Beads
• Dentalium Shells (optional)
• Pendant (optional)

1. If you are going to have a pendant then you can use a loop knot with your sinew to keep it in place. Example: if you have an abalone pendant, that has either been pre-drilled or you used a dremel tool to drill it, if you simply string it throw it will hang on it’s side; rather than laying flat.

The loop knot: (not the loop knot used in boating, not the traditional loop knot)

This photo shows three strands of sinew creating the “loop knot”. The amount of sinew, and how many strands in your necklace you want, is optional. Cut a long piece of sinew that you have measured around your neck and positioned on your chest for the length you want. Put the ends of the sinew together. Put those ends through to hole of the pendant. Pull the two ends (together) until there is a smaller loop on the other end  of the hole on the pendant. (Do not pull the sinew all the way out). Bring the two ends of your sinew threw the remanding loop. Pull until snug. Now the pendant will lay flat.

2. Whether or not you are using a pendant this next step will apply to you. Take your pine nuts (the amount is optional) and grind them onto sandpaper on their points. Both points of the pine nut need to be sanded down.

3. When the pine nuts are sanded down until there is a large enough hole (on both sides) to fit a paper clip in; then they need to be cleaned out. Inside the pine nut is an edible substance called the meat. Unfold the paper clip until there is a point. Use the paper clip to push out the white meat inside the nut.

4. When the meat is emptied from the pine nuts then they can be applied to the necklace in a pattern of your choice, along with beads and or dentalium shells. Some dentalium shells will need to be cut, as their holes may be too narrow to fit your sinew throw.

5. As for patterns, here’s some indigenous ideas. The Maidu people have an old story of how the dentalium shell and the pine nuts can never directly touch each other. In the picture above I used beads as a spacer. The Maidu people also have a legend stating that the wider end of the dentalium must face down (towards your feet, not your face). When the dentalium faces down it represents life; when the dentalium faces up it represents death.

6. After all the nuts, beads, and shells have been applied to the necklace there are many ways to proceed with ending the necklace. One could simply knot it at the top. In the photo above, I cut out two holes in the dyed leather. One on each end of the leather strip. Then I tied a knot (several knots actually) to the hole in the leather.

7. When you have made your knot but fear it will come loose you can always secure your knot by applying clear nail polish to the knot.