Howdy!
Hope you are having a terrific summer! Did any of you go on vacation this last August? If so, where did you go? And most of all, did you have fun?
Well, to start off September, I thought I’d tell you a bit about the American Indian style of jewelry, Plains style specifically. All tribes were different, and this included hair styles, jewelry, moccasins, clothing and many other things that, if one knew how, could identify the tribe.
But let’s go a little deeper into Jewelry, what was used and how it was worn. To the left here is a young man who can be identified by his style of hair, as well as his clothing and jewelry. He is Blackfeet, I believe, and probably the picture was taken in the 1850’s or 1860’s. His hair with his bangs cut and pulled straight up could be either Blackfeet or Crow. But the style of his rifle case and the capote (his “blanket coat”) he is wearing looks very Blackfeet. He wouldn’t be part of a southern tribe because there would be no need for the capote in the south.
It looks to me as if he is wearing ermine fur as earrings — the fur of the ermine was white in the winter and the fur could be used for jewelry or could ornament anything, including headdresses. He is also wearing the bow clips with large beads attached and they are hung from each side of his face. His necklace is beaded with the beads (most likely the color blue) used as a choker and a looping necklace of white and various colored beads. It also looks to me as if the necklace has another loop to it, barely seen because of the capote he is wearing.
His moccasins look to be made from a substantial material, probably buckskin, which might identify him again, as Blackfeet. His friend is dressed in the classic kind of outfit worn by traders during this time period.
The gentleman to the right is definitely Blackfeet, and is Chief Old Person, circa the
late 1890’s or early 1900’s. He is an ancestor of Chief Earl Old Person, who was chief of the tribe for very many years…and also who was very beloved by his tribe. In this picture, his headdress identifies him at once as Blackfeet because the top part of the headdress stands almost straight up, which was the style of the Blackfeet headdress. He wears many ermine furs, which hang down from his headdress. He is also wearing what looks like a brass armband and has a tomahawk in his hand. Note, also his white clothing, which is usually made from a buffalo hide and tanned until it is soft and white.
Glass beads were a trade item and were used to make earrings, necklaces and decorations on clothing, including dresses, leggings, moccasins, robes, bags, cradle boards and adorned many other things. Bead work could be identified by tribe and by color schemes. Before there were glass beads (imported from Europe), porcupine quills were used (soaked in the mouth until they were soft) and then used to ornament much of their clothing.and other items. Men and women might wear shells as necklaces and earrings. Men might wear horns, antlers, claws…a grizzly’s claws worn around the neck denoted a man of distinction. Chokers could be made from otter skin and beads and another items highly valued.
Here to the left are a couple of Blackfeet girls. Interestingly, these girls are not wearing as much jewelry as the men. Could it be that the Blackfeet men wore more jewelry in attempt to attract a woman? In the world of eagles, hawks and many other birds, the male of the species is often more colorful than the female, partly as a way of protecting the female as Nature has planned, but also, most likely to attract a lovely female’s attention.
Did you know that female prairie chickens sat in a circle around males in the middle who were dancing and strutting, showing off their stuff?
But, in this picture to the right, what we see is the traditional American Indian style braids, with a part in the middle. The shells that are ornamenting the dress on the girl on our right appears to be elk teeth. Notice they are both wearing a belt and at this time period (perhaps the late 1890’s), they are both wearing trade-cloth dresses and what looks to be wide leather belts. In the background is a beautifully painted tepee. Men painted these tepees, by the way.
Well, I hope you have enjoyed this quick look into traditional style of jewelry and clothes and the beautiful bead work and ornamentation.
And now for the give-away: I will be giving away a pair of American Indian hoop earrings to one of the bloggers today. They are beautifully beaded with orange, yellow, green, blue, red and white seed beads. There are three hoops that make up the earrings and the size of each earring is about 2 inches wide and long. They are for pierced ears only. 
Please see our Guidelines for giveaways. All you have to do to enter into the drawing is leave a post here on the blog.
Am hoping you enjoyed this quick look at the beauty of the American Indian jewelry and clothing.
On sale right now are two of my stories:
She Steals My Breath
Currently on sale for $.99.
And
The Adventures Of Good Eagle and Miss Starling
by Genny Cothern — my pen name for this new Young Adult Series.
Currently on sale for $.99
Have a super day and Do Well!
I always enjoy your posts. This one about jewelry is very informative. I have some glass beaded jewelry from Cherokee (NC), but I’m not sure if it’s actually Cherokee Tribe-style. Most stores sold them en masse, and they always had Minnetonka moccasins. I do have a doll from there, too.
We didn’t really have a vacation, but we took our youngest to college at LSU and visited family in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Virginia on the way home.
Hi Denise! I always like your posts. Yes, today it would be hard to identify the tribe by their hairstyle and clothing and jewelry due to the nature of trade and the Nation-wide pow-wows. I used to fancy dance at pow-wows and so have the traditional style of moccasins, but my fancy dance regalia is out-of-date now, I think. Still, I have it set aside in case I ever get the courage to go fancy dancing again.
Your “vacation” sounds fun! My “vacation” was staying at home and getting things done without the worry of the next book and all the promotion. It was a week of relaxation, which I thoroughly enjoyed! Thanks for your post, Denise.
interesting info
Thank you very much!
My vacation was 2 years ago when I went to Raleigh, NC. August was a one day vacation of sorts by going to our local county fair! I got to see cows. sheep, pigs, piglets, llamas, chickens, bunnies, and even won at a game! We used to have a fall pow wow but it wasn’t here last yr. There’s been no word as to this year, either. As you know I always took tons of pictures since I enjoy it. I would love to win the ear rings!
Hi Pam! As I mentioned above, my vacation was simply taking time off from work. Yay! I know you take lots of pictures and I love them! Pam, I hope the pow-wow in your area still has the pow-wows. Usually it is at a pow-wow where I buy the jewelry I wear. Thanks so much for your post.
Love. Your story about Native American beads and clothes. My 3times grandmother was from the Delaware tribe.
Hi Emma!
Wow! The Delaware tribe. They met the early European settlers and were some of the first to have to face what was coming. Wow! A wonderful tribe.
Hi Kay, no vacation for us…? but that’s okay, I have plenty of your books to take me places. ? I love Indian stories as you know.
This blog was Very interesting. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Wow! Those earrings are beautiful! They would go quite well with the Indian jewelry I do have. I love the ones in this blog.
That’s all for now. Love you!
Starr
Hi Starr!
Thank you, Starr, for the compliment about my books taking you places. Must admit even writing these books — especially doing the research — takes me to the time and places I write about. Aren’t those earrings beautiful? Gosh! How I love hoop earrings.
Thanks Starr for coming here today!
What an intriguing post. thanks so much.
Thank you so much, Debra!
I love reading about Native American culture and the people and customs. Earrings are something that I enjoy wearing and matching to my outfits. Those are beautiful hoop earrings. Where did they find the glass beads to make the jewelry?
Hi Naomi!
I share your love of the American Indian culture and customs. And also, like you I love wearing them and matching them to outfits. In many cities and on every reservation I’ve been on, they have stores where one can buy beads for beading. Once, when I was on the Lakota reservation, one of the people I was with found some old, old beads that had been taken by some of the ants to make their ant nest. So interesting.
What beautiful jewelry! I have some Indian blood. My uncle, who has since passed, was a lawyer for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He and my mom spent years working for the cause. It was quite impressive. I loved the photos on your post.
Hi Audrey!
Wow! Your mom and uncle worked for the BIA. Okay, I have something I saw on the Blackfeet rez and it was a sign that said, “Grizzly Management.” I burst out laughing. I know, of course, the real meaning of the sign, yet, it still gave me a picture of a bunch of grizzly bears behind desks doing management on the rez. : ) Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Audrey!
I always enjoy your informative posts. When I was quite young we visited Wisconsin Dells and saw a ceremonial dance. I was in awe of their outfits and jewelry.
Here’s a link to the performance I saw.
https://www.dells.com/retro-attractions-stand-rock-indian-ceremonial/wa
Afterwards I was able to buy a canoe shaped coin purse with beading. I’ve had this for 60 years and still treasure it.
I also have a beautiful turquoise and silver bracelet from a trip to Tucson.
There really in beauty in everything.
Hi Laurie!
You know, in many ways, your remind me of my own purchases when I go visiting someplace. I always go to any Indian stores and look at the jewelry — specially earrings. I have some from many different places I’ve visited. And, I still have some that are probably out-of-date now, but I have them anyway.
Thanks so much for your post.
Wow! How interesting! I love reading about their customs and traditions and how they managed to survive all they went through. The jewelry is beautiful as well, they were very talented 🙂
Hi Laura! Thank you very much for your post. You know, the more I read about their lives during the 1800’s, the most I wish I could have been there and experienced it. There is a delight and a spirit of living free that cannot be matched, I think, in any other culture I have read about. Thanks for your post, Laura.
Hi, Laura, Yup, I went on vacation in July to Montana. It was grand! So much gorgeous country and history! I saw a lot of really beautiful jewelry. Came home with Covid, which wasn’t fun, but it was worth it to see Big Sky Country!
Hi Nan!
You went on vacation to Montana? Oh, I so wish I had been able to go there this year. It is grand and the country…so beautiful. Thank you, Nan, for coming here today and leaving a post.
I love looking at the American Indian jewelry at fairs and such but always wonder if it’s authentic.
When you were talking about female birds in a circle watching the male “do his thing”. it brought back a memory of when I was a preschool teacher and I went to walk through the gym and my 3 year old’s class was in there. He was sitting in the middle of all his female classmates while the other boys were running around. lol I knew after that he’d be my one to watch with the girls and he was.
Hi Carrie!
Your story made me laugh. Oh, my goodness, yes. It is true about the prairie chickens. It was a observation made by Thomas Fox, the nephew of a fur trader at Fort Benton and other forts. He is the Thomas of the Thomas and Pitamakan fame. He made the observation that the Indians were right — that all life is composed of the same thing — just as the women watch the men dancing in a circle, so, too the hens watch the roosters dance before them. At pow-wows sometimes you’ll see the beader making some new piece. Is this piece I’m giving away authentic? I don’t know. But, whether authentic or not, it is very lovely.
Enjoyed your post. Growing up in Arizona and having a mother who wore lots of Indian jewelry I too acquired a liking for Indian jewelry. I wear mine often but do not see others wearing it where I live now. So it is special to me.
Hi Jackie!
How wonderful to grow up in Arizona…so much history there. Must admit that I wear my Indian jewelry when I go out, if only because they are one of a kind and I love them so much. Thank you for a lovely post.
A fascinating and informative post which I enjoyed greatly. The earrings are lovely and would be so special to wear. One of a kind which is rare.
Hi Anne!
Thank you for coming here today and leaving a post. I agree with you that these are special and are a one of a kind. It does really make them special.
A very meaningful and interesting topic which interested me. Reading about history and backgrounds gives me pleasure. What exceptional earrings which should be worn with love and shown off.
Hi Ruth!
Thank you for coming to the blog today and leaving a post. Am so glad you find the topic meaningful and interesting. I do, too. I agree with you. The earrings should be worn with love.
My father-in-law’s grandmother was said to have been a full blood Cherokee. She taught my father-in-law how to do bead work, weave baskets and cane chairs. He used to send his work to a store n Eureka Springs, AR to be sold. In his later years, (he lived to be 93, but fell and hit his head or he would’ve made it to 100. His mama did!) hebtried to make jewelry for every new grandson or granddaughter, new nieces and nephews, etc. I have a picture of some of his jewelry but our daughters took the really pretty pieces. I’ll dm the pics to you, Karen. My grandmama always said she was a Blackfeet Indian. My mama had a Cherokee grandmother. All of their stories are so very interesting. These hooped earrings are beautiful!! ?
Hi Lana!
Am thrilled to see you here on the blog. Gosh, thank you for sharing your family’s rich history. I’d love to see the pictures of some of his work. I hope this little comment of mine finds you doing really well. Am working on book #6 now in the Medicine Man series. Do well, Lana!
I have visited Indian Pueblos where we live. I was enthralled with the locale. We went to Bandelier which was fascinating. The earrings are the most unique and extraordinary jewelry.
Hi Ellie!
My husband and I have visited the Pueblos, too. We even stayed overnight in one. Thank you so much for your compliments on the earrings. And, thank you, too, for coming to the blog today.
Interesting post. Hubby and I did go away to a friend’s beach house in June to celebrate our 25th anniversary. It was fun and relaxing.
Hi Cherie!
Oh, my goodness — going away to a beach house in June. How wonderful and congratulations on your 25th year Anniversary!
I found the article very interesting! I enjoy learning new things. And those earrings are just beautiful!
Hi Joannie!
Thank you so much for coming to the blog today. It is great meeting you here. I agree with you. The earrings are quite beautiful.
Good evening Karen, I really enjoyed reading your blog, and at the same time learned alot also, Thank you. I have always loved the jewelry that the Native Americans make and wear. When our daughter was only 5 months old we moved to Gallup New Mexico where my husband was working in a uranium mine. We lived close to a Navajo Reservation so they would come into town and they would be dressed Beautifully and they wore alot of turquoise jewelry which was so beautiful! Both of these books look like great reads and the Book covers are Beautiful! We have not gone on vacation yet, but in a little over a month, we will be traveling by train and we will be in the train for 10 hours before we reach where we are going which will be to Tucson AZ. I am looking forward to this trip as I love traveling by train. Thank you for your very interesting post. These earrings are Gorgeous!! Thank you for the chance. Have a Great evening and a great rest of the week.
Hi Alicia!
Wow! I didn’t know you used to live so closely to the Navajo Reservation. Yes, they make so many gorgeous things, including earrings and other jewelry, a lot of silver jewelry, too, as well as paintings and the turquoise jewelry. And a train trip, too. I’ve loved train trips, but I haven’t been on one for a while. My last train trip inspired the book, WAR CLOUD’S PASSION. The train era in my estimation did not last as long as it should have. Thanks so much for your post.
Enjoyed the post I remember having jewelry like this so pretty and versatile do you have clip earrings in Indian jewelry? really like looks of book and jewelry
Hi Crystal!
I once had some clip earrings that were American Indian, but I gave them away a while ago. Yes, sorry. These earrings are for pierced ears. Hope you are doing well.
No need to enter my name in the giveaway. My ears were pierced, but grew over. I keep meaning to get them pierced again.
I have always enjoyed the wide variety of jewelry and decorative wear the Native American tribes made. They used what they had available, in later years incorporating what traders and settlers brought. Male traditional dancers will incorporate pieces of broken mirrors in their regalia, often sewn into pelts. Female jingle dancers use the metal lids of snuff cans to make their jingles. Much more convenient than what they used before. It is wonderful seeing the difference in style and materials of different tribes, much of it determined by where they lived and what the local resources were. Trade did spread these resources, but they are reflected most in the traditional styles. Elk teeth and ermine for the northern tribes and silver and turquoise for the southwestern tribes. Even the style of beadwork reflects where one comes from. Northern tribes tended to be the ones with quill work because porcupines did not range into the South. Again, trade helped the spread to other regions. Even though the materials went to other areas, those tribe used them using their own distinctive style. Sorry to run on, as usual, but I have appreciated and enjoyed the wide variety of Native American jewelry and regalia.
Hi Patricia! I love all of these things, too. Interestingly, when one goes to pow-wows, the regalia looks much the same, but some of it is really different, too. Even earrings are different depending on the tribe. Like you, I have many, many things around the house that are Native ‘American made — and a wide assortment of jewelry, too. I always love your posts, Patricia. : )