Porcupine Quillwork

Long before European trade, Tribal Nations decorated regalia and ceremonial items with porcupine quills, an art form that reflects identity, tradition, and a deep connection to the land. Inspired by watching his mother and grandmother bead ceremonial pieces, Dana sought to bring quillwork into his own regalia—only to discover that the practice had been lost within his family and community. Driven by passion and purpose, he taught himself this ancient art and now shares it with others through immersive quill workshops in tribal colleges as well as community based structered programming. He’s dedicated to keeping the tradition alive for future generations through his students.

Faith, 2019, Santa Fe Indian Art Market, Best of Classification in Diverse Arts. Faith is a full-mounted taxidermy river otter dressed in Woodland style traditional clothing. He was created to honor the Great Lakes Woodland culture and societies. His

Faith, 2019, Santa Fe Indian Art Market, Best of Classification in Diverse Arts. Faith is a full-mounted taxidermy river otter dressed in Woodland style traditional clothing. He was created to honor the Great Lakes Woodland culture and societies. His regalia was inspired by our beliefs and stories.

Defending the Homeland, 2021, Santa Fe Indian Art Market, Best of Classification in Diverse Arts. Art mediums include, taxidermy, micro porcupine quillwork, metal work, lapidary, woodwork, beadwork and feather work.

Defending the Homeland, 2021, Santa Fe Indian Art Market, Best of Classification in Diverse Arts. Art mediums include, taxidermy, micro porcupine quillwork, metal work, lapidary, woodwork, beadwork and feather work.

Medallion RGT, 2018, Wrap porcupine quillwork, 5" x 5". This artwork pushed the limits of color in a piece of its size. Older tribal artwork was very conservative, using 3 or 4 shades of quills at most. This medallion has a color pallet consisting o

Medallion RGT, 2018, Wrap porcupine quillwork, 5" x 5". This artwork pushed the limits of color in a piece of its size. Older tribal artwork was very conservative, using 3 or 4 shades of quills at most. This medallion has a color pallet consisting of 17 shades of porcupine quills. The concept and design would be considered very contemporary.

Indian Cowboy, 2018, Hand stitch gauntlets, Porcupine quillwork, 36" x 10". These quilled gauntlets are a reflection of native people in the Midwest and their transition into ranching and farming. Native people used this culture to adapt to the chang

Indian Cowboy, 2018, Hand stitch gauntlets, Porcupine quillwork, 36" x 10". These quilled gauntlets are a reflection of native people in the Midwest and their transition into ranching and farming. Native people used this culture to adapt to the change in lifestyle in the mid-1900s.

Walking the Red Road, 2017, Beadwork, Porcupine quillwork, 30" x 10". This oversized pipe bag highlighted the prairie-style floral designs using glass beads and a two-needle beading technique. This artwork was created to honor my peers living a good

Walking the Red Road, 2017, Beadwork, Porcupine quillwork, 30" x 10". This oversized pipe bag highlighted the prairie-style floral designs using glass beads and a two-needle beading technique. This artwork was created to honor my peers living a good life and carrying on our culture and societies in our homelands.

Medallion, 2017, Wrap porcupine quillwork, 5" x 5". Growing up I saw a great deal of work using the black and white checkerboard design on native artwork. I never understood the meaning, but I liked the look of it. Years later an older artist explai

Medallion, 2017, Wrap porcupine quillwork, 5" x 5". Growing up I saw a great deal of work using the black and white checkerboard design on native artwork. I never understood the meaning, but I liked the look of it. Years later an older artist explained to me it represents the opposite forces in our lives.

Walking In Their Footsteps, 2018, Hand stitch moccasins, Porcupine quillwork, 10" x 9". These are tribal-inspired shoes better known as moccasins. The stitching is known as a center seam pucker toe of the tribes of the Woodland Great Lakes. The leat

Walking In Their Footsteps, 2018, Hand stitch moccasins, Porcupine quillwork, 10" x 9". These are tribal-inspired shoes better known as moccasins. The stitching is known as a center seam pucker toe of the tribes of the Woodland Great Lakes. The leather is cut out in one piece and fabricated into a shoe form.

Concho Belt, 2018, Silverwork, Porcupine quillwork, 40" x 4". This belt is the first of its kind mixing porcupine quillwork with silversmithing in a piece of artwork. The technique used was overlay silverwork accented with kingman turquoise which in

Concho Belt, 2018, Silverwork, Porcupine quillwork, 40" x 4". This belt is the first of its kind mixing porcupine quillwork with silversmithing in a piece of artwork. The technique used was overlay silverwork accented with kingman turquoise which inspired a new birth to my jewelry.

Wapenonah, 2017, Woodwork cradle board, Porcupine quillwork, 30" x 10". Wapenonah is a full-sized cradle board traditionally used to carry our newborn babies. The work was inspired by the birth of my nephew and this was the Indian name he was given.

Wapenonah, 2017, Woodwork cradle board, Porcupine quillwork, 30" x 10". Wapenonah is a full-sized cradle board traditionally used to carry our newborn babies. The work was inspired by the birth of my nephew and this was the Indian name he was given. The colors and designs come from his birth color and tribal concepts.