NativeWeb Resources: Native American Clothing

Name and Description	Nation	Location
How to make moccasins - instructions provided by Judy Kavanagh	Metis	Canada
This page shows you how to make a pair of woodlands style moccasins with fur trim. A free pattern in a woman's size 7 is available as a PDF file. You need the free Adobe Acrobat reader to view it.
More sites on jumaka.com
Arapaho Moccasins	Arapaho	US - Central
Historical description and pattern details from the Museum and Research Center of the American Mountain Men.
More sites on www.xmission.com
Athapaskan women's costumes and ornaments	Athabascan	Canada - Western
Treasures Gallery - In ancient times the Athapaskans (Dene), who lived in northwestern Canada and Alaska, observed strict rituals and taboos to ensure their safety and well-being. Some of those affecting women are illustrated here. The Athapaskans believed that menstrual blood offended animal spirits and that contamination would adversely affect hunting success. At the onset of menses, girls were secluded in huts for long periods, during which they wore fringed hoods like the one here. The hood was to prevent them looking on the faces of hunters; it was believed that, if they were to do so, the hunt would be unsuccessful and members of their lineage might become ill or be killed by vengeful spirits. They drank only from drinking tubes, which might have a grease bag attached; smearing grease on the mouth was intended to reduce the need for food. A necklace like the one at lower left and the collar to its right indicated that a girl was ready for marriage. The weighted ornament at upper left was attached at the back of the head to stimulate hair growth.
More sites on www.civilisations.ca
Beading and Costuming - What it is and How To	Kiowa
This area of my page is dedicated to the costumes, usually cloth, of the Kiowa and Comanche tribes. I will use some other northern tribes as examples of beadwork and such but since I am part Kiowa/Comanche, I have tended to stick to the tribes I know the best. The bead work and leather work examples on the linked pages are mine unless stated in a sub-caption. Breastplates and Drops, Buckskin Boots and moccasins, Earrings, Knecklaces and other Jewlery, Fans and Hairties, Crown's, Sashes, and Strike-a-Light Kits, Basic How-To on Beading with pictures (give it a try) and The Making of a Cloth T-Dress.
More sites on www.geocities.com
Billy Bow-Leg Moccasins	Seminole	US - Southeast
Lately, while down in the land of the Seminole, I ran across what is, to me, an entirely new style of moccasin; a very simple style and probably the most primitive form of moccasin used by the American Indian. It is still in use by a few of the Seminole Indians in the swamp and lakelands of Florida. This form of foot covering, one of which I now have in hand, can be of little protection against thorns or snake bites.
Blackfoot Man's Shirt and Leggings	Blackfoot	US - West
The Blackfoot owner of this striking garment must have been not only an outstanding warrior but also an ambitious man of great wealth -- wealth that he lavished on the pursuit of sacred blessings and social prestige. In Blackfoot society certain costumes associated with the spiritual patrons of warriors conferred these benefits. This costume is unique in combining the distinctive insignia of three patrons -- the sun, the weasel and the bear. - The Canadian Museum of Civilization.
More sites on www.civilisations.ca
Button Blankets	Haida	US - Northwest
The button blanket, which came into use after European contact, has now become the most popular piece of contemporary feast attire among the people of the north coast - the Haida, Tsimshian, Tlingit and Nisga'a. At first, crest designs decorated with dentalium shells were sewn onto wool blankets acquired from maritime fur traders and later the Hudson's Bay company. By the middle of the nineteenth century, the favoured blanket was made of blue duffle, with the designs appliquéd in red stroud. Squares of abalone shell were sewn to the eyes and joints of the crest figures to reflect bits of light as the wearer danced around a fire. When pearl buttons obtained from fur traders came into use, they proliferated onto the formlines. - The Canadian Museum of Civilization.
More sites on www.civilisations.ca
Chilkat Blanket	Tsimshian	US - Alaska
The Chilkat story of its origin says that long ago there lived on the Skeena River, in British Columbia, a Tsimshian woman, a widow, of the village of Kitkatla, and her only daughter, Hi-you-was-clar (rain mother). It had been a season of extreme want. The deep snows of winter still covered the lowlands, and the spirit of hunger stalked abroad as a famished wolf. Day after day the girl sat, half dazed from want of food, staring vacantly at the intricately carved and painted picture that covered the rear interior partition of the house; for, although poor, they were of high caste, and their surroundings spoke of past greatness. The picture finally took possession of her, and, setting up a rude frame, she forgot her suffering, and lost herself in the work of weaving an apron of like design. Later her hand was sought by the son of the chief and, in the exchange of presents, her handiwork was given to the father-in-law, who honored the occasion by a great feast, at which he wore the apron, and sacrificed many slaves in token of his appreciation of the gift. . .
Choctaw Clothing	Choctaw	US - Central
The Choctaw people are very proud of their status as "civilized" Indians. We have been a pragmatic people, quick to accept whatever was good from the people who entered our lives.
Choctaw Dress	Choctaw	US - Central
When participating in public performances of Choctaw dances, today's Choctaws wear their national regalia. This regalia, for both sexes, is quite distinctive and readily distinguishes the wearer as a Choctaw rather than a member of some other southeastern tribe.
More sites on freepages.cultures.rootsweb.com
Choctaw Traditional Dress	Choctaw	US - Central
Excerpt from: "Choctaw Music and Dance" By James H. Howard and Victoria Lindsay Levine
More sites on www.choctawnation.com
Clothing and adornment		Canada
Clothing of Tsimshian nobles -Chilkat blankets -Button blankets -Haida hats -Frontlets -Man's shirt and leggings (Blackfoot) -Knife, sheath, ear pendants and pouch -Métis octopus-type pouches -Naskapi man's coat -Athapaskan women's costumes -Iroquois moccasins -Ojibwa knife and sheath -Inuit parkas -Inuit dance clothing -Inuit fashions today -Dene children's clothing -Dene gloves -Traditional NLaka'pamux clothing -NLaka'pamux male costumes -Deerskin dress (NLaka'pamux) -NLaka'pamux clothing in transition
More sites on www.civilisations.ca
Clothing of Tsimshian Nobles	Tsimshian	US - Alaska
Tsimshian society was divided into three classes: nobles, commoners and slaves. Wealth was reflected in the clothing and personal adornments worn by the chiefs, their wives and children. Nobles wore elaborate headdresses and helmets with crest images carved or painted on them. Their ceremonial clothing included woven Chilkat blankets, aprons and leggings. Following the introduction of European woollen cloth, a new type of clothing was made from dark blue trade blankets, decorated with red flannel crest designs and pearl buttons - The Canadian Museum of Civilization.
More sites on www.civilisations.ca
Clothing through Historic Crafts & Skills		US - Central
Truth and fiction in frontier clothing The image of the frontiersman carried by most people is a mixture of fact and fiction. For example, it is true that early fur traders and trappers dressed primarily in fringed buckskin. But the handsomely tailored, honeygold buck-skins of television and movies bear little resemblance to the loose-fitting, grease-stained, gray-black skins found in museum collections and early journal accounts.
First Peoples of Canada Clothing		Canada
Canadian Museum of Civilization's exhibition / digital collection- Clothing among Native peoples varies in both style and raw material, reflecting cultural preferences and the environmental conditions found in each region of Canada. It was frequently adorned with elaborate and colourful designs and motifs. These often serve to identify the tribal group that manufactured the clothing and the time period of manufacture. Moccasins, Shoes and Boots \ Hats \ Mittens and Gloves \ Garters and Socks \ Leggings and Trousers \ Robes, Capes and Cloaks \ Shirts \ Coats \ Miscellaneous
More sites on www.civilization.ca
Fur Trade - Strap dress worn by Lake Superior Ojibwe women	Ojibwe	Canada
The strap dress was worn by Lake Superior Ojibwe women. They took their design from their pre-contact style of dress, which was made from two deer hides sewn together along the sides, and then held on with two straps hanging over their shoulders.
More sites on www.north.ecasd.k12.wi.us
Furs, Feathers & Fiber - Covering Native Alaska		US - Alaska
Throughout the summer of 2001, Alaska Native Master Artists created more than twenty articles of clothing, accessories and footwear. Visitors from around the world watched as skilled artisans made traditional clothing using the tools and methods passed down from generation to generation.
More sites on www.alaskanative.net
Kiowa Indians, Texas Indians	Kiowa	US - Central
With examples of historic clothing and beadwork.
More sites on www.texasindians.com
Lewis and Clark Exhibit - Peabody Museum		US - Central
Painted Buffalo Robe - Mandan, Grizzly Bear Claw Ornaments, Calumet, Man's Shirt, Sinew-Backed Elk Antler Bow - Upper Missouri, Raven Bustle or "Crow belt", Woman's Side Fold Dresses, Otter Pouch, Whaling Chief's Hat - Makah or Nootka, Flexible Root-gathering Bag - Wasco-Wishram, Upper Missouri corn varieties.
More sites on www.peabody.harvard.edu
Making Moccasins - SiteDuck
To me, there is nothing like the feeling of walking barefoot. Moccasins give some protection, while allowing the feet to still feel the earth. I wanted to learn how to make them, both to learn the skills, and so my family and friends could escape sneakers for awhile.
Moccasins of the Northeast		US - Northeast
Lenape (Delaware), Mohegan, Naskapi, Cree, Ojibwa, Huron, Micmac, Iroquois and Eastern Great Lakes
More sites on www.geocities.com
Rabbit Skin Blankets		US - Southwest
Coloring page through Tomo-Kahni State Park from thier Kid's Corner/Clothing Coloring Pages
Sanajuvut: Our Creations	Inuit	Canada
Photos from an Inuit fashion show at the Canadian Museum of Civilization - Through Judy's Moccasin & Mukluk pages.
More sites on jumaka.com
Seneca Beaded Skirt , c. 1849 - New York State Museum	Seneca	US - Northeast
Women's History in the Collections. This beaded skirt was made by Caroline Parker, a member of the Seneca Iroquois family headed by William Parker who acted as informants, consultants, interpreters, and friends to Lewis H. Morgan, who in the mid-nineteenth century brought together the first collections of ethnographic materials for what would become the New York State Museum. In 1849, Morgan acquired complete Seneca woman's and man's ceremonial costumes of the day, including this skirt. In the daguerreotype, Caroline Parker is shown wearing the woman's costume, consisting of beaded moccasins, leggings, skirt, overdress, blanket, and handbag, most if not all of which she herself had made.
More sites on www.nysm.nysed.gov
Soft Sole Plains Moccasins through Historic Crafts & Skills		US - Central
Make a type of side-seam shoe worn by native Americans and travelers on Missouri 's frontier.
More sites on www.conservation.state.mo.us
Threads of the Land		Canada - Western
Clothing Traditions from Three Indigenous Cultures - The Canadian Museum of Civilization - clothing and related items from the Copper and Caribou Inuit (Northwest Territories), the NLaka'pamux (British Columbia Interior) and the Dene (Northern Athapaskans of the Northwest Territories). Three hundred artifacts, drawn mainly from the Canadian Museum of Civilization's extensive collections, are complemented by photographs, paintings, wall-hangings, and videos.
More sites on www.civilization.ca
Western Apache buckskin moccasins	Apache	US - Southwest
Watercolor by Grenville Goodwin showing painted designs on late 19th or early 20th century Western Apache buckskin moccasins. Original is 5 x 7¾ inches. Reproduced by permission of Neil Goodwin from the original in the Arizona State Museum Archives.
More sites on www.statemuseum.arizona.edu
Woodland Indians clothing		US - Northeast
Through the Powhatan Indian-Y Guide Tribe. Woodland Indian Shirts, Woodland Indian Dress Shirts, Woodland Indian Apron, Woodland Indian vests and soon to come - Moccasins
Wyandot Clothing	Wyandot	US - Northeast
For the matter of clothing. It is necessary to freeze your subject in time because the clothing changed quite rapidly after mid-eighteenth century. I will try to describe what an "unspoiled" Wyandot as he might have gazed accross the Detroit River aboiut 1777. Even so, the costime varied with the season and changed somewhat from the ceremonial to the day-to-day dress and also had to be adjusted for the hunt or the war path.