Most relevant, the Santo Domingo (Kewa) Indians are one of 19 Rio Grande pueblo tribes. In addition, they are descendants of the ancient Anasazi. Consequently, their reservation is located between Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico, along the Rio Grande.                                                                                           

Most noteworthy, these Indians create silver, shell and Turquoise Jewelry. One of the first Indian artists, of this tribe, learns silversmithing was Ralph Atencio in 1893.  They grind, drill and string rolled turquoise and shell “heishe” beads.  In addition, you can recognize their work with thunderbird necklaces, heishe necklaces and mosaic inlay on shell.

Heishe or heishi (pronounced “hee shee”) are small disc- or tube-shaped beads made of organic shells or ground and polished stones. They come from the Kewa Pueblo People (formerly Santo Domingo Pueblo) of New Mexico, before the use of metals in jewelry by that people. In addition, the name is the word for shell bead in the Eastern Keresan language.

Furthermore, the oldest specimens of heishe date back to around 6000 BCE. Most noteworthy, the same technique is in use in northern Africa 30,000 years ago, using ostrich eggshell.                                                                                                                                                                  

Finally, modern heishe beads are commonly mechanically mass-produced. Some artists still hand make beads. As a result, they hand chip the beads, with holes they drill through their centers using stones with points. 

To learn about Navajo jewelry, click HERE       

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