Not all beads used by natives were symmetrical or perfectly formed. For example, animal teeth were often used to create art or adorn regalia. Early tooth beads had a hole drilled through them to allow a string or sinew to pass through. Later, after some of the tribes became proficient in silversmithing, artists began to cap the tops instead of drilling holes in the teeth.
Natives believe that to honor the life of an animal that had been killed, one should not waste any part of it. Using the parts of animals is also considered by many natives to be a means of asking the spirit of the animal to share its wisdom with the hunter. With that concept, teeth are not simply decorative. In some tribes, natives believe that wisdom related to animal teeth can provide help in finding food for the family or in developing patience during a conflict. Although there are many similarities, the understanding of each animal’s wisdom or medicine differs among tribes
