Spirit Dance Shirt

Item number A9360 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

Public

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Data
Data Source

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Description

Black trade felt (flannel-like) fitted shirt. Deep opening down the front closed with three buttons. Cuffs, hemline, shoulder blades and breast area heavily beaded with floral designs in blue, white, yellow, grey and green. Rows of unpainted carved miniature paddles sewn across each sleeve, lower front and back. The beaded panels and lower edge are bordered with a thin strip of light cloth and off white beads.

Cultural Context

dancing; spirit dancing; ceremonial

Narrative

The accession file suggests that this shirt was made by a Tahltan person and then traded down to the Coast Salish community from which it was acquired. The paddles would have been added by its Salish owner.