Traditional Clothing of the Native Americans

This book first explores the Traditional Dress of Native Americans in the nine major cultural areas of North America, with an emphasis on everyday or “work” clothes. Individual items of clothing are then discussed in detail. Among the many items included are skirts & aprons from a variety of materials, dresses of many styles, capotes, robes, breechclouts, leggings, shirts, breastplates, parkas, hats, moccasins cradleboards and sandals. Selected pieces of dress clothing, primarily from the Plains, are also discussed. Included are drawings, patterns and ideas for making replicas of primitive clothing. There are also sections on how some people currently live in buckskin year round and surprising facts about native clothing.

Buckskin Today describes clothing made in modern times in both period and modern styles. Most of the items in this section were submitted to the author by others and there is a wide range of ideas (from one skin skirts to fur mittens and hats to modern buckskin jackets and coats). Explanations are given on how each piece was made. In addition bags, pouches and parfleche are covered and there are tips for sewing and cleaning buckskin.

Tanning Buckskins and Fur emphasizes Indian brain tanning methods including dry-scrape and wet-scrape techniques. Coloring and dyeing hides are described and there is an extensive discussion of the physical structure of deerskin. Other tanning methods included are Ivory® soap buckskin and acid tanning techniques. Over 100 references on these subjects are provided.

Extensive research makes this book a very useful reference for anyone interested in Native American or self-reliant lifestyles, as well as for those who attend pow wows and rendezvous.