Strawberries are one of the most sacred symbols in Oneida beadwork, according to the Oneida Indian Nation’s website. Known as the “heart berry,” they represent creation, healing and resilience.
It’s also one of the motifs Mariah Tyakohelahthè Diaz is most drawn to in her beadwork.
Through her business, Ostalókwa by Mariah, Diaz creates traditional and contemporary beadwork, from custom medallions to jewelry to graduation caps, for clients across Wisconsin and beyond.
“I like to do a lot of strawberries,” Diaz said. “The medallions that I make are more custom, and then the hats, more modern.”
But for Diaz, beadwork is about more than creating art. It’s a way of preserving her culture, honoring her ancestors and sharing her Native American identity with future generations.
Learning from traditions
Raised by her grandparents, Diaz grew up between Milwaukee and Green Bay.
“My grandma used to take me to powwows all the time, and I would love to see all the beadwork,” Diaz said.
Although she was introduced to beading when she was younger, Diaz didn’t begin practicing beadwork professionally until 2020.
She learned from her aunts, Sharon and Carmen, who taught her traditional beading techniques.
“She was always interested in carrying on traditions,” Sharon Diaz said. “I started her out doing daisy chains, because that’s how I learned, and then from there we went on to earrings, and then medallions.”
For Mariah, learning and practicing beadwork was more than a craft; it was a way to reconnect with traditions that previous generations were not always able to pass down.
“My grandma and my grandpa were raised in Catholic schools, and they really weren’t able to direct us into that stuff,” Diaz said. “That really impacted me wanting to learn how to do it.”
Sharing culture through beadwork
As Diaz’s skills grew, so did the impact of her work.
Among her most meaningful commissions are graduation caps, which have become a way for Native American students to celebrate both their academic achievements and their cultural identity.
Daniel Vermiglio, a relative and client, commissioned Diaz to create custom high school graduation caps for both his children.
“Having it done with traditional beadwork lets us keep connected with our tribe and our ancestry,” Vermiglio said. “I think the more that it’s seen and represented, the better.”
Another client, Daniel Schuyler, commissioned Diaz to create custom beadwork for his college graduation cap. He says wearing a beaded cap is something he always wanted to do.
“I wanted to express the pride I have in being Oneida and that part of my heritage,” Schuyler said. “People don’t understand who Native people are, and that we are everywhere.”
Carrying traditions forward
Diaz’s audience and confidence grew after creating pieces for former Milwaukee Bucks player MarJon Beauchamp, who is Native American, and current Bucks star Bobby Portis.
“I made a Bobby Portis medallion a while ago. I actually got to give that to him,” Diaz said. “That really improved my beadwork, and me wanting to do more things for others.”
As Ostalókwa by Mariah continues to grow, her focus remains on preserving Oneida traditions.
“Our beadwork and our way of life is still sacred,” Diaz said. “Taking care of the earth, the water, the community, everything.”
The knowledge and traditions passed from Native American community programs to her aunt Sharon Diaz, then to her, are something she hopes won’t stop with her.
“I’d like to teach the youth, so they learn how to bead, and have something to put their minds to,” Diaz said.
Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.
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