Madeline Beyuka

Madeline Beyuka of Zuni peublo made jewelry from 1954 until the late 1980’s.  She learned the craft from her brother-in-law, and worked with her husband Edward Beyuka for a number of years.  She and her husband Eddie were famous for their dancers & kachinas. Madeline did the inlay and Eddie did the silver work on their collaborative pieces. Madeline was one of Zuni’s premier silversmiths in the 1960’s. Her old-style Zuni inlay work is highly sought after by collectors.

Zuni Olla Maidens are one of the most renowned dance groups in New Mexico. The members, all women, dance with fragile water jars, or ollas, balanced on the top of their heads. These women play an important role in Zuni, acting as cultural ambassadors for the community portraying and preserving cultural traditions for future generations.