Stepping Back

These moccasins are a mystery — one of thousands of Indigenous ancestral belongings without a known creator or origin. Connecting the puzzle pieces of this pair is bittersweet and often feels less like research and more like relational remembrance. At first glance, they’re stunning, but as your eyes linger, the intention and love put into every stitch become clear. The materials and designs tell us a lot about who made them, including giving us a general idea of her home and indicating when she lived. The use of rawhide soles, for example, is a predominant feature of Plains moccasins, to help comfortably navigate the prairie terrain. Sinew was used to sew them together, indicating they’re likely from the mid- to late 19th century. Moreover, the maker’s intention and creative freedom are seen in the initial design being replaced by spot-stitching of valuable metal beads. These attributes give the moccasins a resemblance to those of the Niitsítapi (Blackfoot). Ultimately, though, it’s the spirit that went into making them that stands out.