Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-05-16
Customs Of Dress Among Northwest Indians

Most Montanans have seen the
present day Indians, and know that
those Of the northwest have retained
little that was picturesque in their at
tire. No hobo could be more disreputa-
BILE looking than the Crees who were
brought into Cascade county to help
IN the beet harvest Their il-fitting
clothes were ragged, and presumably
dirty Most of them wore So-called
civilized dress, and In appearance were
much the worse for IT, Yet Harmon
says in his account Of these same
Indians, and of others OF the north
west tribes, that what they wore was
simple and convenient"
The material of which their clothing
was made depended somewhat upon
where they lived. East Of the Rockies.
their garments were OF the skin Of
the moose, or of beaver skins together
with the fur. West Of the Rockies, we
are told of one tribe which used rabbit
skins cut in strips and braided to-
gether.
The men wore tight leggings reach
ing from the ankle nearly to the hip.
These we're made OF skin, or cloth
when they could buy 1t, and the single
seam was an inch deep This was left
on the outside, and frequently deco
rated with fringe or taSsels The
breechcIout consisted Of a piece of
cloth five feet long and a foot wide,
looped over a string about the waist
and the ends, front and back, left
hanging. A shirt reached to the thighs
and was belted about the waist with
a piece of parchment, which fastened
in the back.
For head covering the skin of a !
fox, or other small animal was sewed |
together on three sides, with often the |
tail left on to form a decorative |
pendant in the back. Moccasins and |
mittens completed the costume, except /
on special occasions. The men painted /
their faces, and wore their hair long. |
In summer a buffalo tail hung from
the wrist to drive away mosquitoes
and flies.
Feathers Were Used
At feastS or dances, the feathers of
birds like eagles or swans, helped to
enliven their costume, and instead of
gems, strings of claws, horns, or teeth
Of animals graced their necks, or we're
bound about their heads. Nor were
earrings lacking, that reached to the
shoulder, and were made of beads, or
shells fastened together.
Carriers constituted a favorite gift
Of the Indian maidens to the beaux
Of their race, and the number worn
oy young man settled the question
Of his popularity with the girls.
Porcupine quill embroidery adorned
shirts and belts, and the shirts were
finished with fringe Prince
Macmillan felt he had made an i'm
Dortant discovery when he found the
indian men more vain than their
women.
'eaching to the middle of the leg Their
eggings ended below the knee, where
hey were held in place by garters IN
ike those of the men, their moccasins
lad no embroidery, but their skirts
we're both fringed and painted. In
itead OF cap, they wore q kind Of
hood, made Of a piece Of cloth two ,
eet square, doubled and sewed upl
1t one end, which forms an enclosure
or the head; and it is tied under
he chin. The bottom of it falls down ,
he back like cape, and In the center /
S tied to the belt. This cap is fanci- ,
ully decorated with ribbon, beads or ,
'orcupine quilts" :
Their sleeves formed a distinctive
eature in the dress of the women. {
These were not connected with the {
hirt. Says Harmon: These sleeves are
ewed up, as far as the bend Of the
.rn, having the seam on the under
ide, and extend to the shoulder, be-
oming broader at the upper end, so 6
hat the corners hang down as low as {
be waist. They are connected together
nd kept on by cord extending from {
ne to the other, across the shoulders" '
Some Of their ornaments were brace c
cts made of brass or horn; and ring,
-------------------------i g
-