The Athabascan culture is one of strong values and are traditionally a highly nomadic people. It is a life of moving with food sources and gathering along the way. The Athabascan people traveled in small groups in which everyone had to work in order to survive. That's what made the baby strap such an important tool in the Athabascan way of life. Not only is the baby strap an important tool but it is a great example of Athabascan design and how it has changed after contact.
Mothers in Athabascan culture often carried their young on their back with a baby straps in order to keep mobile. The strap operated“to hold infants against their upper backs when traveling(Athabascan Indian History).” This kept the mother's hands free to carry or do other things with there hands. Early examples of the baby belt were not so beautifully decorated. According to the Anchorage Museum “Although such belts may have existed in prehistoric times, examples that exist today are almost uniform in style: a broad, heavily beaded band of moosehide or cloth, with decorative dangles of colored yarn and beads.(Athabascan Indian History)” This goes along with what we talked about in class with the change in design after contact.
Before contact, the Athabascans used porcupine quills that were dyed and spun with a hand loom. When the Athabascan people made contact …show more content…
If not just from the influence of the Europeans, but materials that were traded for affected Athabascan art. With access to dentalia shells, beads, wool yarn, flannel, glass beads and silk embroidery floss, Athabascan arts have changed. I don’t know if it is bad thing or a good because i'm not an active member of the Athabascan culture. The added color and bead work makes the pieces more beautiful diverse. This diversity has helped keep the Athabascan bead work alive in the 21st century. Even after contact the with the European cultures the Athabascan culture is still alive and active
Mothers in Athabascan culture often carried their young on their back with a baby straps in order to keep mobile. The strap operated“to hold infants against their upper backs when traveling(Athabascan Indian History).” This kept the mother's hands free to carry or do other things with there hands. Early examples of the baby belt were not so beautifully decorated. According to the Anchorage Museum “Although such belts may have existed in prehistoric times, examples that exist today are almost uniform in style: a broad, heavily beaded band of moosehide or cloth, with decorative dangles of colored yarn and beads.(Athabascan Indian History)” This goes along with what we talked about in class with the change in design after contact.
Before contact, the Athabascans used porcupine quills that were dyed and spun with a hand loom. When the Athabascan people made contact …show more content…
If not just from the influence of the Europeans, but materials that were traded for affected Athabascan art. With access to dentalia shells, beads, wool yarn, flannel, glass beads and silk embroidery floss, Athabascan arts have changed. I don’t know if it is bad thing or a good because i'm not an active member of the Athabascan culture. The added color and bead work makes the pieces more beautiful diverse. This diversity has helped keep the Athabascan bead work alive in the 21st century. Even after contact the with the European cultures the Athabascan culture is still alive and active