Last Monday, Huichol-style bracelet-making was hosted by the Gayle R. Davis Center for Women and Gender Equity (CWGE) at Grand Valley State University as part of Hispanic Heritage Month.
The experience was part of a new event series at GVSU called Craftivism, which aims to highlight diverse arts and craft forms, as well as cultural traditions. The workshop was open to all members of the campus community, encouraging cultural education through the activity.
The Huichol are Indigenous peoples of the Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains in the Jalisco and Nayarit regions of Mexico. Their bracelets, known for bright colors and intricate geometric patterns, are handwoven from beads and thread using a needle-weaving technique. Each design carries symbolic meaning, often representing elements of the natural world such as the sun, rain, deer or maize. Bracelets can also embody spiritual visions connected to peyote ceremonies and shamanic traditions. In this way, Huichol bracelets are not only decorative accessories, but expressions of cultural identity and living tradition.
The event began with a slideshow featuring maps, as well as photos and videos that educated guests about the history of Huichol bracelet-making and the cultural region it originates from. After listening to the presentation, students gathered around tables in the CWGE lobby, carefully threading shiny beads into vibrant patterns as they tried their hand at the arm form. Some attendees attempted to bead animals, like turtles, while others created traditional necklaces and bracelets.
Johanna Montalvo-Tinoco, a CWGE student facilitator, provided insight into the historical struggles overcome by the Huichol.
“Despite the violence and cultural erasure that followed the Spanish invasion and later waves of colonialism, the Huichol people have preserved their pre-Columbian, shamanic and ceremonial traditions,” said Montalvo-Tinoco. “This survival is due in large part to their resilience and the protection afforded by their geographic isolation. Today, about 18,000 Huichol people, who share ancestral ties with the Hopi of Arizona and speak a branch of the Uto-Aztecan language family, continue to identify as Huichol. They remain the only Indigenous community to speak Wixárika.”
GVSU sophomore Thalia Rodriquez enjoyed both the cultural and communal aspects of the activity.
“It was cool to see how much detail and patience goes into each design,” said Rodriguez. “At first I thought it would be really simple, but once I started, I realized how much focus it takes to thread the needle. Making the bracelet helped me appreciate the artistic heritage behind it even more. It was also great to connect with people at the table.”
CWGE will continue to highlight Hispanic Heritage Month with upcoming events for students to take part in. This will include Sabor y Sonido Sept. 23, which is dedicated to honoring the traditions, flavors and creativity of Latin cultures. The gathering will feature food from a variety of countries, lively music and spoken-word performances. Guests are invited to savor authentic tastes, listen to cultural expressions and connect with the diverse stories that shape Latinx communities. The event will be co-sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Division of People, Equity and Culture.
Additional Craftivism events will include a Halloween Special, detailing the historical treatment of women and witches Oct. 13, as well as celebrating Native American Heritage Month Nov. 10.
