Native American clothing is treated differently compared to how Western people treat their own clothing. The aim of this research paper is to show the different their clothing culture and what it means to them compared to how the western culture treats their clothes . The report will show how clothes from everyday wear, to special event clothing is treated and their meanings. It shall also show how differences of clothes between each tribe and their own specific meaning to their clothing. Clothing is something that means a lot to the Native Americans. Their clothes are made from weaving, beading, and other detailed works. Native Americans were very inventive with the natural sources that surrounded them. Natural sources included deerskin, …show more content…
beads, and wampum. (figure 1) Unlike how our society is these days, Native American tribes did use their clothing to show their rank in society. One article of clothing that represents this is the headdress. “It is more symbolic than anything else.” (www.indians.org) Not many tribes used the war bonnet but the tribes who did are the Sioux, Crow, Blackfeet, Cheyenne, and Plains Cree. “The Sioux were thought to be one of the first Native American tribes to use these head pieces” (www.indians.org) (figure two) War bonnets are very stereotypical compared to all of the other types of headdresses the Native Americans wore. The roach headdress (also named the porcupine roaches or artificial roaches) are much more common. Many tribes on the east side of the Rocky Mountains are familiar with the Roach Headdress. The roach headdress was made with stiff animal hair. This includes porcupine guard hair, moose hair, and deer's tail hair. (figure three) The animal hair is connected to a hair accessory or to leather so it stands up like a crest. Most of the time, the hair on the base is dyed with bright colors. It is also decorated with feathers and shells. Traditionally this headdress is worn by male warriors and dancers. It is not often used in spiritual ceremonies but in dances and combat. However, in some tribes, there are ceremonies for when a boy earns the right to wear the headdress for the first time. “Male and female members of most tribes wore some type of moccasin.” (www.tribaldirectory.com) Moccasins are one of traditional Native American footwear.
“Woven sandals, boots, and leggings attached to shows have also been produced by Native Americans.” (www.nativetech.org) Moccasins go back to cold climates way back in the day. They were a very big necessity to the Native Americans since there was very low temperature that would cause their feet to freeze. However when summer came, their feet would not freeze over so it was okay to become barefoot again. Just like how modern people have different types of shoes, Native Americans had a variety of moccasins for different situations. Moccasins with hard soles that are most likely made with two or more pieces of hide are more likely found in the western plains and deserts. Hard sole moccasins require more tailoring than other types of moccasins. This type helped protect the feet from cacti, prairie grass and sharp rocks. “The turned up toe of many two-piece moccasins (like that of the Apache) prevented sharp objects from running into the seams and injuring the foot.” (www.nativetech.org.) Soft-soled moccasins are usually made with one piece of leather and were very common in Eastern Forests. They were made by having the sole around the shoe and sticking out or by patching the leather around the middle of the foot. Around the Plains and the Northwest coast, they were sewed around the sides, not the
middle. Now with taking clothing to account, buckskin was favored with it came to the fabric material. Even if it was tiresome to prepare it into fabric usable for clothing. Women of the tribe can easily take 40 hours and more to prep the buckskin before the cutting. For women, some tribes found the top half of clothing was optional. Most tribes had women wear one piece dresses made of buckskin or even cotton. The men would wear a rectangular shape that would be their breechcloth and would often go shirtless. Beads and quilting were used to decorate the clothes. The each pattern on the dress holds a certain meaning, and each bead on a Pow wow jingle dress holds a prayer in it. Cherokee clothing was made from mulberry bark. This would result into fibers which led to soft shirts and other articles of clothing. The Cherokee also wore legging and moccasins when the time for them came. The chiefs of the tribe wore long capes that were made of feathers. The men of the tribe shaved their head which left a scalplock. They were allowed to grow it long. The also had face and body paint with some tattoos as well. Men’s boots were above the knee to protect their legs when they hunting. There was also fringe along the top of the boot. The women wore a knee-length wrap around skirts that was also made from bark or buckskin. Later in their fashion, poncho styled blouses were added to it. During a Cherokee wedding, women would wear the tear dress. (figure four) This dress would eventually become the official dress of Cherokee women. Unfortunately, I have found no data on what men wore during this special ceremony. The Sioux as well wore clothing made from buckskin. They also included buffalo skin in their fabric. Sioux clothing had paint, porcupine quills and/or beadwork to decorate their clothing. Men and Women of the tribe all adore the beading and patterns integrated into their clothing. Like Cherokee men, the Sioux wear breechcloths as well. Men’s wear also included fringed buck skinned tunic or a shirt paired up with leggings. The Sioux women wore knee-length dress that was also paired with leggings. Women’s legging went up to the knee and was held with garters. Sioux weddings were a very informal practice, so I assume there are very little to none Sioux wedding clothes. Traditionals Seminole clothing was traded out for more European clothing. The patterns on the clothing also had an European influence as well. “Seminole clothing of the early 19th century was similar to that of other Southeastern tribes.” (Blackard and West) Women wore floor-length skirts. The area at and around the waist was decorated. The blouse that would be paired with this was very short. It would cover the women’s breast and expose her midriff. The Seminole women would wear accessories to complete their outfit. Necklaces with glass beads are the accessories of choice. They would wear as many as they could afford. Seminole men would wear a full cut shirt. A cloth turban could also be included in their outfit. Other tribes that wore a cloth turban are the Cherokee, Creek, Yuchi and Natchez.
The Muckleshoot are a Native American tribe are a part of the Coast Salish people. their territory can be found located in Washington. They are recognized as the Muckleshoot Tribe, they are composed of generations of different tribal groups who inherited Puget Sound areas and occupied river drainages from the rivers confluence in Auburn to their reservations in the Cascades.
One of the things I found was The clothes worn by the men included loincloths or short kilts which were made from a long rectangular piece of animal skin or cloth which was worn between the legs and tucked over a belt. The men started to wear cotton shirts and shorts, and a headband They wore moccasins made of soft leather. The type of clothes worn by the women of the Hopi tribe were cotton dresses called mantas which were fastened at a woman's right shoulder, leaving her left shoulder bare. Early women’s clothes included a dark blue woollen blanket that was fastened above the right shoulder and tied with a belt at the waist. When Hopi girls reach womanhood, their hair was dressed in two large whorls at the side of the head in a squash blossom.
The Kwakiutl Indian tribe existed before the discovery of North America by the European culture and inhabited the coast of the Pacific Northwest of the United States and British Columbia in Canada. The tribe is rich in tradition and culture and has remained steadfast in their beliefs, history, teachings and artisan skills which have been passed down generation to generation. The artisans in the Kwakiutl tribe mastered the art of creating special ceremonial masks that are not only beautiful and aesthetically interesting to the eye, but also mechanically intriguing in which the masks serve a specific purpose to a theme during different ceremonies that are conducted by tribal specialists during certain times throughout the year.
For example , in the encyclopedia of Native Americans it states the Chinook tribe wore prized dentalium shells , the men wore mat robes and wide-brimmed hats made of bear grass or cedar bark. Woman wore knee length fringes dresses made of silk grass or cedar bark. On the other hand , in the Nez Perce tribe section in the encyclopedia of Native Americans it states that in the early times shredded cedar bark , deerskin and rabbit skin were used to make clothing. Men usually wore capes and breech clothing adding fur robes and leggings when it's cold. Women wore large basket hats. Later they started imitating their tailored skin gourmets decorated with shells , elk teeth and beads. This shows that they both wore clothing very
Since the Hmong have endured and survived as a culture, they believe in preservation of the entire traditions. Embroideries and methods have not changed much but the use of fabric has updated. Flower cloth has evolved to story cloths relating to all their past historic events. Although the Hmong have adjusted with certain changes, their preservation of their skillful handcraft has not. It is an important value, tradition, and ritual to their culture that has continued to exist even through American society.
This paper addresses the results of interviews, observations, and research of life in the Ottawa tribe, how they see themselves and others in society and in the tribe. I mainly focused on The Little River Band of Ottawa Indian tribe. I researched their languages, pecking order, and interviewed to discover the rituals, and traditions that they believe in. In this essay I revealed how they see themselves in society. How they see other people, how they see each other, what their values were, what a typical day was etc. I initially suspected that I would have got different responses from these questions but in reality the results in the questions were almost completely the same. I studied this topic because mostly all the people that are close to me are associated in the Ottawa tribe. I additionally love the Native American culture, I feel it is beautiful and has a free concept.
Traditions in Chinese culture are long-rooted and are taken very seriously from generation to generation. However, there must always be room for modern change in order for society to grow and strive across the globe. In Bound Feet and Western Dress the conflict between Chinese traditions and modern change arises. With this conflict it is important to discuss the different meanings of liberation for men and women and they way in which Chang Yu-I was able to obtain liberation throughout her life.
Aboriginal women had occupied an essential position in the fur trade of the North American region from its birth during the 17th and 18th centuries. Even though this is true, the role of women, especially those of the Native American society, has been ignored a great deal in the entire history of fur trade. Contrary to the belief that the whole fur trade activity was only male-dominated, it very much depended upon Native women and their participation and labor in order to ensure survival as well as economic success. This paper will attempt to illuminate how Native women played the role as important producers when it comes to fur trade of the American Plains and, of course, the Canadian region. This paper will also deal with the two important company's namely the North West and Hudson's Bay Company and tell how each functioned during the time of fur trade. The term “fur traders” is the term often used to described anyone who was interested in the traffic of furs. The traditional picture has been that of a male in buckskin shirt and a raccoon cap, dispensing alcohol and trinkets to gullible savages, in turn for the quality furs worth 10 times their value.
This made their clothing unique to other tribes. They used bring colour that were dipped in different liquids and even sometimes blood from animals that were usually killed for a specific need. Wood and bark was super important to help build houses but also have enough to make a fire when the weather started to get colder. The men would use stones and wood to make bows and arrows and different weapons. The women would make the clothing and blankets for the winter time made of elk or deer skin. The Dakota Sioux were very big hunters. The men hunted deer, elk, bear, wild turkey and the most popular buffalo. They didn 't fish a lot because of the fact that it was against their religion to kill fish for food because of the fact that they saw it as an offering that a young child will give up to the gods to become a man. The women would mainly gather berries and roots for heavier alternatives to the meat. They also had their children help out because of the fact that they didn 't want the children to hunt at a young age. The roots were also used for medicine along with foot. Since the Dakota were nomadic, they would move and migrate where ever the buffalo went and when food was scare they would have their meat dried and take around with them so they were never hungry. Since they were nomadic their housing needed to be easy to
The Native American Indians are a vital piece of the society of the United States. While their kin have existed on this land for many years, today their numbers are reducing. Once, the Native Americans lived on this continent with little discourse and disturbance. They were overall nourished, content, and established. Truth be told, the men and women generally were set in regular parts. The men were seekers, warriors, and defenders, while the women watched out for the youngsters, their homes, and cultivated. It relied on upon the tribe when it came to craftsmanship. In a few tribes, the men would really weave baskets and blankets. Common nourishments were expended and chased. Deer, wild ox, fish, and different feathered birds were the wildlife of decision. Corn, beans, squash, berries, nuts, and melons were the leafy foods that were expended. Berries were additionally frequently utilized as a characteristic color for fabrics. While the late 1800’s into the 1900’s and past started to bring battle to the Native American Indians, they battled an intense...
For a long period of time the Cheyenne tribe followed the buffalo. When the buffalo would migrate so would they. They used all parts of the buffalo for various things that helped them survive. They made their villages easy to pack up incase the herd left. The Women would attract the buffalo with colorful blankets when the men would shoot the buffalo with a bow and arrow. The women would do the cooking in the Cheyenne tribe. The main vegetables they would cook were corn, squash and beans. Their main sources of meat were buffalo and deer. They would make tools out of the bones of the animals they killed as well as make coats with the skin and fur. Most of the women wore animal skin skirts. The natives had strong beliefs about wasting any part of the animal so they would try to use
The short story “Clothes” by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is about a young Indian woman, Sumita, and her cultural transition to America that is symbolized by her clothes and the color of her clothes. The traditional Indian attire for a woman is a sari and each one has its own purpose. Her clothes also indicate her progression from daughter, to wife, to woman.
“For as long as men and women have been wearing clothing, there has been a hierarchy based on garments. The clearest example arose when the sexes were segregated into skirts and pants: women would only wear dresses (a symbol of submission) and men would only wear trousers (proof of domination). Women’s clothing was created to impede and hamper movement (through tight or many layered skirts), while men enjoyed the ease and comfort of pant legs.” (Meza, Echazarreta) Women’s fashion throughout the ages can be used to trace the history of equality between men and women. As women achieved greater independence, they claimed the right to choose what they wore, and that included women being able to wear pants. There are three things that were instrumental in making it socially acceptable for women to wear pants, they include: the invention of the bicycle, WWII, and influential women.
To begin with, I shall look at what fashion is; it is a currently popular style or practice involving clothing, footwear or accessories. It mostly refers to the current trends in looks and dressing style of a person (Cumming 234). In most cases, fashion is confusedly related to costumes; when a person talks of fashion they are seen to mean fashion in terms of textile. Fashion is seen to originate from the Western world and it is copied by other places. In this paper, we shall look at how fashion affects lifestyles and the group of people who are affected most. The paper further investigates how media is used to transmit fashion from one region to the other. Although it has been seen to affect people’s lives many people have different perspectives on fashion and dressing.
Through the above examples, it can be seen how textiles are not just fibers woven together but another form of art that represents beliefs and traditions and holds important cultural meaning. It seems as though, before industrialization, and extreme advances in textile production, there was a greater passion and customization to create meaningful textiles. Almost all of the examples that I used in this essay were from hundreds of years in the past. Today, art, history and textile expert, Desiree Koslin believes textiles “still carry meaning… although people may have forgotten to original ways and means.” Textiles have and will continue to be more than just fibers woven together but symbols of diverse and deep history and tradition.