Native American CLOTHING

Native American CLOTHING
Ceremonial Dress
When most people think about Native American clothing, they think deerskin, animal furs and moccasins.
Native American ceremonial dress was worn for special occasions, spiritual ceremonies and rituals.
The style of this dress and its décor read much like a modern military
uniform. The symbols, colors and beads that adorn these regalia are
indicative of a person’s family, tribe, political status and marital
status.
While the theme remains the same, the styles vary from region to region between tribal nations.
Several items of ceremonial dress were often smudged and worn at
certain occasions only, such as burial ceremonies or weddings. New
styles of dress have evolved for dance ceremonies at Pow Wow festivals.

Moccasins
One of the most popular dress items related to Native Americans, the
moccasin, has its origin with Indian tribes of the North East where
seasonally cold weather made it necessary to create some form of foot
protection.
The name Ojibway, a Native American tribe from the Great Lakes area, means “people of the puckered moccasin.”
Like all crafted Native American items, moccasins were innovatively
modified to be more functional, especially in a given environment. They
also had style and decorative differences that made them
distinguishable from one tribe to another.
One or more pieces of rawhide were worked into the sole of moccasins
worn in the western plain states and desert areas to protect the feet
from sharp rock and small cactus.
Tribes such as the Apache commonly wore moccasins with a turned up toe,
and the purpose of design was to prevent sharp objects from entering
the seams and causing injury.
The most common moccasin was the soft soled moccasin, often constructed
from a single piece of leather that was wrapped around the foot and
sewn with a patch added to the instep.

Pouches
Since Native American clothing did not contain pockets, pouches of
various sizes and shapes were used to carry food, medicine, fetishes,
tobacco and any other necessities. Made of tanned leather or animal
bladders, pouches were attached to belts and hung from wrists or necks
or slung across the back.



<0><0><0><0><0><0><0><0>
Being Indian its not,
Just the "Blood"....Its "Living the way"......
{Karenshadowdancer}