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Accessories
Part of putting together a complete outfit is having the right accessories. Some accessories might be practical, like bags and belts, while others might purely be worn for beauty, like jewelry. The Plains Indians did not have pockets in their clothing, so they relied on bags and belts to carry tools and other personal belongings. Dresses especially were considered incomplete if a belt was not worn. Attached to the belts were awl cases and knife sheaths, as well as small bags that might carry a flint to make a fire, or glass beads and sinew to work on a pattern. The belts and bags were often made out of animal hide and decorated with quills, glass beads, or metal tacks or disks. The Plains Indians were also fond of wearing jewelry. Like today, they wore bracelets, earrings, rings, and necklaces. Women of the Southern tribes, like the Comanche and Cheyenne, wore multiple bracelets and necklaces at the same time.
Bag
Strike-a-Light bags carried flint and tinder, which were then used to start fires.
Sioux
Late 19th-Early 20th Century
Case
Sometimes, the colors used in beadwork represented a different direction. White might mean
north, blue could be west, green the south, and red the east.
Southern Plains
Early 20th Century
Pouch
Native Americans living on reservations traded ration tickets for food and other necessities.
Sometimes, ration tickets were kept with the tinder in Strike-a-Light bags, or they might be stored in a
separate pouch.
Lakota or Sioux
Late 19th-Early 20th Century
Medicine Bag
This bag is called a "possible" bag because it could hold anything possible. Possible bags were
square-bottomed, and the beading on the top flap often matched the beading on the side, connecting the design.
Lakota
Early 20th Century
Belt w/Accessories
This belt shows the items of a typical belt set: a pouch, knife sheath, and awl case. These
tools would be utilized throughout the day.
Lakota
Early 20th Century
Scabbard
This belt shows the items of a typical belt set: a pouch, knife sheath, and awl case. These
tools would be utilized throughout the day.
Oglala
Late 19th-Early 20th Century
Belt
This belt was woven in an impressive pattern using rich colors. The addition of glass beads on
the fringe adds a sparkling element to the overall design.
Osage
c.1900
Scabbard
The feathers on this scabbard are the down feathers of a bird, possible an eagle. Down feathers
are very soft and located beneath the exterior feathers. They were dyed and used as embellishment on
many Plains Indian objects.
Lakota
Early 20th Century
Arm Bands
Arm bands and cuffs are still worn by Plains Indians, as part of their dance regalia, today.
Lakota
Early 20th Century
Cuffs
Arm bands and cuffs are still worn by Plains Indians, as part of their dance regalia, today.
Lakota
Late 19th-Early 20th Century
Cuffs
Arm bands and cuffs are still worn by Plains Indians, as part of their dance regalia, today.
Northern Plains
Late 19th-Early 20th Century
Breastplate
Breastplates were originally used as armor during battle or while hunting. They were then
viewed as a status symbol and worn on special occasions by both men and women.
Lakota
Late 19th-Early 20th Century
Breastplate
Breastplates were originally used as armor during battle or while hunting. They were then
viewed as a status symbol and worn on special occasions by both men and women.
Oglala
Early 20th Century
Breastplate
Breastplates were originally used as armor during battle or while hunting. They were then
viewed as a status symbol and worn on special occasions by both men and women.
Lakota
Late 19th-Early 20th Century
Bandolier
These bandoliers were not used to hold ammunition like modern bandoliers, but acted as a
decorative element. Many times they were made with trade beads, but these examples show that other
objects were also used.
Lakota
Late 19th-Early 20th Century
Bandolier
These bandoliers were not used to hold ammunition like modern bandoliers, but acted as a
decorative element. Many times they were made with trade beads, but these examples show that other
objects were also used.
Lakota
Late19th-Early 20th Century
Bandolier
These bandoliers were not used to hold ammunition like modern bandoliers, but acted as a
decorative element. Many times they were made with trade beads, but these examples show that other
objects were also used.
Plains
Late 19th-Early 20th Century
Bandolier
These bandoliers were not used to hold ammunition like modern bandoliers, but acted as a
decorative element. Many times they were made with trade beads, but these examples show that other
objects were also used.
Sioux
Late 19th-Early 20th Century
Necktie
This tie has the same shape as a modern necktie, but it is made out of buckskin instead of
cloth.
Lakota
Late 19th-Early 20th Century
Necklace
Beads could also be made out of metals, like brass or silver, as well as glass.
Plains
Late 19th-Early 20th Century
Necklace
The Comanche were particularly fond of jewelry. They wore metal bracelets and multiple strands
of glass bead necklaces at a time.
Plains
Late 19th-Early 20th Century
Necklace
The Comanche were particularly fond of jewelry. They wore metal bracelets and multiple strands
of glass bead necklaces at a time.
Plains
Late 19th-Early 20th Century
Necklace
Gordon Smith's friend, Samuel Belt, told him that a warrior would only kill a bear if he had
to, such as if he met one on a path. Once the warrior wore the necklace, the spirit of the bear stayed
with him.
Plains or Lakota
Early 20th Century
Necklace
Gordon Smith's friend, Samuel Belt, told him that a warrior would only kill a bear if he had
to, such as if he met one on a path. Once the warrior wore the necklace, the spirit of the bear stayed
with him.
Plains
Early 20th Century
Necklace
The "claws" on this necklace were carved out of horn to imitate real bear claws.
Northern Plains
Early 19th-Early 20th Century
Necklace
This type of necklace was popular among the Crow and Blackfoot tribes. White beads were
typically used to create the loops, with a darker colored bead in the center.
Lakota, Cheyenne or Crow
Late 19th -Early 20th Century
Necklace
Bone and teeth were other popular decorative element. Gordon Smith's collection also contains a
necklace made of finger bones.
Plains or Lakota
Late 19th-Early 20th Century
Necklace
Bone and teeth were other popular decorative element. Gordon Smith's collection also contains a
necklace made of finger bones.
Osage/unknown
Late 19th-Early 20th Century
Roach
Roach headdresses were often worn into battle or as dance regalia. They were not as spiritually
significant as war bonnets, but boys still had to earn the right to wear them.
Lakota
Late 19th-Early 20th Century
Roach
Roach headdresses were often worn into battle or as dance regalia. They were not as spiritually
significant as war bonnets, but boys still had to earn the right to wear them.
Lakota
Late 19th-Early 20th Century
Bonnet
This is another example of the Lakota geometric beadwork on a white background. The primary
stitch used to bead the sunbonnet was the lazy stitch technique.
Lakota
Early 20th Century