Signing up enhances your TCE experience with the ability to save items to your personal reading list, and access the interactive map. Moccasins are a type of footwear often made of animal hide and traditionally made and worn by various Indigenous peoples in Canada.
During the fur tradeEuropeans adopted these heelless, comfortable walking shoes to keep their feet warm and dry. Moccasins continue to serve as practical outerwear, as well as pieces of fine Indigenous handiwork and artistry. A type of shoe, boot or slipper, Indigenous peoples historically made moccasins Hem och Färg of animal skins of, for example, cariboudeermooseelk and bison.
In areas with harsh winterssuch as the SubarcticIndigenous peoples designed moccasins with soft soles, so as to fit easily into snowshoes. In the Plainshowever, Indigenous peoples added hard soles to their moccasins, which helped with walking over rocky land.
During the fur tradevoyageurs and fur traders adopted moccasins as well as other Indigenous apparel, such as buckskin pants and hats because of their durability and functionality. Today, moccasins are still used as either outdoor shoes or indoor slippers by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
While Indigenous peoples had their own ways of making moccasins, there are some general similarities. Traditionally, women made moccasins by cleaning, stretching and drying out animal skins in the sun. The hides were also scraped down with a bone knife or similar tool in order to achieve a uniform look and consistency.
The skins were typically smoked before the women crafted the moccasins, stitching them together with sinew. Most often, moccasins were fashioned from one piece of leather, with a seam running from the back of the shoe down the centre. However, moccasins came in different styles and varieties.
Some had cloth gathered and sewn at the toe, while others had a flatter design. For example, fur lining provided warmth in cold climates, but this was unnecessary for people in warm environments. Historically, Indigenous women decorated moccasins in various ways, including with red ochre paint, fringe, ribbon, quillwork and copper bells.
By the s, moccasin designs changed to reflect the availability of European materials such as glass beads and silk thread. Floral patterns were especially popular among European consumers, and it was common for Indigenous girls to learn these sewing and decorating patterns in European-led mission schools.
In addition to their practicality, traditional moccasins are pieces of artisan craftwork. As a result, many have been preserved in museums and cultural centres across North America. Additionally, elders and artists in many Indigenous communities in Canada continue to preserve this traditional footwear by teaching mokkasin dekoration generations about moccasin-making and decorating techniques.
Daniel J. Canadian Museum of History View the online moccasin exhibit to view artifacts and learn more about the history of moccasins. The Canadian Encyclopedia is a project of Historica Canadaa non-profit, nonpartisan organization devoted to teaching Canadians more about our shared country.
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