Shoulder blanket for shamans
William Smith: Thread looks the same as the blanket so the repairs should be original. Stitching is artwork in itself. Perhaps moose hide, but there was no moose in that area and in the 50s transplanted Moose - though there were moose in Martin river.
William Smith: William Smith mentions that the marks on the underside are from Warbles. These infect caribou while they are living, and can be seen when you peel the hide from the animal.
William Smith: Bear and wolf clan represented. Could have been traded for, and that would explain the use of caribou hide. William told a story of the Tlingit coming to try and trade with the Eyak.
William Smith: Once when the Tlingit came to see the Eyak to ask to trade, the Eyak refused. So the Tlingit returned home. The chief told them to try again with more ships, so they then came back with many of their people to the Eyak, and stayed with them. They didn't return. So then the Tlingit chief decided to go and get his people and bring them home from the Eyak. He came with many ships, and as the Tlingit do, danced at the shoreline. Then he asked the Eyak chief to return his people, and the chief consented to do so. The Tlingit chief asked if they were afraid, and therefore consented. And the Eyak chief said no, that by refusing to trade with the Tlingit they had received a much more important gift - the exchange of culture. Since then, the Tlingit and Eyak have had family relations, and have intermarried. Made of Caribou hide.
William Smith: bear, wolf, octopus
Teal Hansen: Eyak. Made of Caribou hide.
Judith Ramos: The Tlingits from Yakitat used wolves as emblems as well. There seems to be a strong connection with the Yakitat wolf clan in this object.
Heather Hall: Possible use of hooligan oil.
Teal Hansen: Pigments ground or burned and then ground, added to water or spit, change color over time and become darker. But this is still bright red, so it wouldn't have been bone binding with water (which leaves a waxy look).
Nancy Yeaton: Could the red be blood?
William Smith: William Smith mentions that the marks on the underside are from Warbles. These infect caribou while they are living, and can be seen when you peel the hide from the animal.
William Smith: Bear and wolf clan represented. Could have been traded for, and that would explain the use of caribou hide. William told a story of the Tlingit coming to try and trade with the Eyak.
William Smith: Once when the Tlingit came to see the Eyak to ask to trade, the Eyak refused. So the Tlingit returned home. The chief told them to try again with more ships, so they then came back with many of their people to the Eyak, and stayed with them. They didn't return. So then the Tlingit chief decided to go and get his people and bring them home from the Eyak. He came with many ships, and as the Tlingit do, danced at the shoreline. Then he asked the Eyak chief to return his people, and the chief consented to do so. The Tlingit chief asked if they were afraid, and therefore consented. And the Eyak chief said no, that by refusing to trade with the Tlingit they had received a much more important gift - the exchange of culture. Since then, the Tlingit and Eyak have had family relations, and have intermarried. Made of Caribou hide.
William Smith: bear, wolf, octopus
Teal Hansen: Eyak. Made of Caribou hide.
Judith Ramos: The Tlingits from Yakitat used wolves as emblems as well. There seems to be a strong connection with the Yakitat wolf clan in this object.
Heather Hall: Possible use of hooligan oil.
Teal Hansen: Pigments ground or burned and then ground, added to water or spit, change color over time and become darker. But this is still bright red, so it wouldn't have been bone binding with water (which leaves a waxy look).
Nancy Yeaton: Could the red be blood?
Measurements: 110 x 105 cm
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