Dress

During the early reservation period (1860–91), when Native people were forced onto reservations, the buffalo nearly became extinct due to wholesale slaughter by the United States government. European woolen trade cloth quickly replaced hide that was no longer available for garments. The blue cloth was dyed with indigo, and Native women often retained the undyed selvage as part of a garment’s design, as seen on the sleeves and hem of this dress. Wool cloth was easier to cut, sew, and maintain than hide, and thus became a valuable commodity. The dress’s rich blue color is enhanced by the rows of white dentalium shells on the bodice.