Crafts for Native American Heritage Month

Learn to make Summer Strawberries and a Flower Bracelet to celebrate Native American Heritage Month (November 2021).

Published on November 2, 2021

Native American Heritage Month crafts: Beaded bracelet and paper strawberry.

By Mija, a Cristo Rey Richmond work study student

November is Native American Heritage Month, a month that recognizes the culture and heritage of Native Americans. The celebration began in 1990 when then-President George H.W. Bush designated the month of November as Native American Heritage Month.

According to the National Congress of American Indians, November “is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people. Heritage Month is also an opportune time to educate the general public about tribes, to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges Native people have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.”

In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, we made two crafts taught by the National Museum of the American Indian: flower bracelets and summer strawberries. Read on to see how to make them!

Flower Bracelets

From the National Museum of the American Indian: “Beadwork is a form of decoration and adornment that honors and shows respect for individuals, natural resources, and objects. Today, it continues to be a valuable form of Native expression and artistic skill.” We will be making flower bracelets today.

Supplies

  • String
  • Beads (3 different colors for petals, center, and spacers)
Native American Heritage Month craft: Bead on string for bracelet making.

Step 1: Tie a spacer bead to the end of your string, leaving a 1 inch tail.

DIY Native American Heritage Month craft: Beaded bracelet with red and letter J beads.

Step 2: Thread one petal bead, followed by one center bead and three more petal beads. Take your string and thread it back through the first petal bead. Pull tight.

Native American Heritage Month craft: Beaded bracelet with red and white beads.

Step 3: Add two more petal beads, then thread your string back through the 4th petal bead. Pull tight to create your flower.

DIY Native American Heritage Month craft. Beaded bracelet with red and white beads and the letter J.

Step 4: Add two spacer beads.

Native American Heritage Month craft: Beaded bracelet with red flower and white beads.

Step 5: Repeat Step 2.

Native American Heritage Month craft: Beaded bracelet with red flower and white letter beads.

Step 6: Repeat Step 3.

Native American Heritage Month craft: A beaded bracelet featuring red flower beads and white spacer beads.

Step 7: Repeat Steps 2-4 until you finish your bracelet. Add one spacer bead after your last flower.

DIY beaded bracelet craft for Native American Heritage Month. Red and white beads.

Step 8: Tie a double knot around both ends of your bracelet. Trim excess string.

Summer Strawberries

From the National Museum of the American Indian: “Strawberries are celebrated every year by many Native communities. The plants flower in late spring and bring an abundance of nourishing fruit throughout the summer. They have long been enjoyed by Native people as the first fruit after long winter months.” Today we will be making paper strawberries.

Supplies

  • Red construction paper
  • Green construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Ruler
  • Hole punch
  • String
  • Black marker
Red square paper folded diagonally for Native American Heritage Month crafts project.

Step 1: Using a ruler and scissors, cut a piece of paper to be an 8.5″ by 8.5″ square.

Folding red paper for a Native American Heritage Month craft. DIY paper craft activity.

Step 2: Fold the paper in half. Then in half again. Then in half one more time.

Pink paper folded into a triangle for a Native American Heritage Month craft activity.

Step 3: Turn the paper so the long edge is on the left. Draw a curved line to look like a petal.

Red paper being held for Native American Heritage Month craft. DIY project for kids.

Step 4: Cut along the curved line.

Pink paper flower craft for Native American Heritage Month. DIY craft project.

Step 5: Draw two lines across three petals so you know where to cut.

Pink paper flower craft for Native American Heritage Month. DIY art project.

Step 6: Cut off the three petals.

Pink paper cutouts for Native American Heritage Month crafts. DIY project with holes for stringing.

Step 7: Using a hole punch, make holes in the tip of each petal.

Pink paper star craft for Native American Heritage Month. DIY project with string on a wooden table.

Step 8: Weave your string in and out of the petals.

Red paper lantern craft for Native American Heritage Month. DIY paper craft ornament.

Step 9: Tighten your string so the petals form a strawberry shape. Tie a double knot to secure it.

Green paper square for Native American Heritage Month craft activity. DIY project.

Step 10: Using a ruler and scissors, cut a piece of green paper to be a 4.5″ by 4.5″ square.

Green triangle held in hand. Native American Heritage Month craft activity.

Step 11: Fold the paper in half. Then fold it in half again. Then fold it in half one more time.

Green triangle with drawn design, held by hand. Native American Heritage Month craft activity.

Step 12: Turn the paper so the long side is on the left. Draw a curved line that looks like two or three leaves.

Hand holding green arrowhead cutout for Native American Heritage Month craft.

Step 13: Cut out the shape.

Green paper leaf craft. Native American Heritage Month craft idea.

Step 14: Unfold the shape, then fold it in half. Using your hole punch, make a hole in the middle of the shape. When you unfold, there should be two holes near each other.

Strawberry craft for Native American Heritage Month. Red paper strawberry with green leaves and a white string.

Step 15: Thread one side of your string through one hole and the other side of your string through the other. Tie a double knot to secure it.

Strawberry craft for Native American Heritage Month. Paper strawberry with green leaves.

Step 16: Draw on your seeds using a black marker.