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HISTORY / MATERIALS
Arctic Traveler's Gift Shop 201 Cushman St. Fairbanks, AK. 99701 Phone: (907) 456-7080 Email: info@arctictravelersgiftshop.com
WE WRAP, PACK, AND SHIP!
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ATHABASCAN INDIAN BEADWORK Trade beads and other western goods entered the Interior through established aboriginal trade routes before the arrival of European fur traders and explorers. Large glass beads first and tiny glass beads followed by 1860. These beads replaced the traditional decorations of porcupine quills and caribou hair embroidery. Today beadworkers use designs from both the past and present, as a source of income, as well as beautiful personal effects. Beadwork is most often done on moosehide. Yupik Eskimo Skin Sewing & Beadwork: The sealskin slippers are one example of skin sewing and beadwork donw by the Inupiat women of Shismeraf. Skin sewing is a prized skill. Elaborate parkas, books, and slippers are still made and used today. Caribou Tufting: Tufting is a form of decoration used by western Athabascan Indians on costumes and special items such as bags and belts. The craft had been all but forgotten until a few years ago. The hair is hand picked, washed and dyed with natural dyes such as berries, moss and bark, leaves or nowadays commercial dyes. After dyeing the hair is dried and ready for sewing. About 15 to 20 hairs are held on a pattern, a stitch is made around the hair, and is pulled tight and knotted on the back of the material. This makes the hair stand up in a tuft. Because of the method, no two are ever exactly alike. |
