A new and exciting book for those interested in traditional Native American dress and for anyone who wants to know how to make use of their own deerskins and other animal skins, in either a traditional or modern manner. The information in this 176 page volume is extensive, well researched and fascinating to read!
This book first explores the Traditional Dress of Native Americans in the nine major cultural areas of North America, with an emphasis on everyday or “work” clothes. Individual items of clothing are then discussed in detail. Among the many items included are skirts & aprons from a variety of materials, dresses of many styles, capotes, robes, breechclouts, leggings, shirts, breastplates, parkas, hats, moccasins cradleboards and sandals. Selected pieces of dress clothing, primarily from the Plains, are also discussed. Included are drawings, patterns and ideas for making replicas of primitive clothing. There are also sections on how some people currently live in buckskin year round and surprising facts about native clothing.
Buckskin Today describes clothing made in modern times in both period and modern styles. Most of the items in this section were submitted to the author by others and there is a wide range of ideas (from one skin skirts to fur mittens and hats to modern buckskin jackets and coats). Explanations are given on how each piece was made. In addition bags, pouches and parfleche are covered and there are tips for sewing and cleaning buckskin.
Tanning Buckskins and Fur emphasizes Indian brain tanning methods including dry-scrape and wet-scrape techniques. Coloring and dyeing hides are described and there is an extensive discussion of the physical structure of deerskin. Other tanning methods included are Ivory® soap buckskin and acid tanning techniques. Over 100 references on these subjects are provided.
Extensive research makes this book a very useful reference for anyone interested in Native American or self-reliant lifestyles, as well as for those who attend pow wows and rendezvous.
Evard Gibby is also the author of How To Tan Skins the Indian Way and How To Make Primitive Pottery, both very successful books also published by Eagle's View Publishing. In the late 1960's he began experimenting with hide tanning using a kit purchased from a mail order firm. About the same time, while a student at Brigham Young University, he obtained a copy of Larry Dean Olson's book Outdoor Survival Skills and began to practice these skills with his younger brothers. Through his association with a unique Specialty Explorer Post of the Boy Scouts of America, called the "Anasazi Post", he has become ever more knowledgeable about the skills and techniques practiced by primitive peoples in North America and elsewhere. The post specializes in teaching young people these skills. In addition to his Boy Scouts, he has taught at the Boulder Outdoor Survival School's Annual Rabbit Stick Rendezvous and through the Continuing Education Department of the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls.
Evard was raised on a farm near Burley, Idaho, where he gained a love of nature and the outdoors. He graduated from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah in 1972 with a degree in Zoology. He has worked as an Environmental Health Specialist for the Public Health Department in Twin Falls, Idaho since 1979. Evard enjoys camping with his family, nature study, primitive skills and photography. He and his wife Paula have five sons and one daughter and live in Kimberly, Idaho.
