Meskwaki Clothing, 1925

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Courtesy of the State Historical Society of Iowa, Wallace, Josephine, 1925

Description

This is a photograph of Young Bear on the Meskwaki Settlement in Tama, Iowa, in 1925. The Sac and Fox women wore wraparound skirts. Sac and Fox men wore breechcloths and leggings. Shirts were not necessary in the Sac and Fox culture, but people wore ponchos when the weather was cool. The Meskwaki and Sauks also wore moccasins on their feet. Later, Sac and Fox people adapted European costume such as cloth blouses and jackets, decorating them with distinctive silk applique. Today, some Sac and Fox people still wear moccasins or an applique skirt, but they wear modern clothes like jeans and they only wear feathers in their hair on special occasions.  

Source-Dependent Questions

• Look closely at the photo and describe his clothing. What materials are his clothes made form?
• What evidence from the image helps you decide whether it is from long ago or today?