Olivia
As Manifest Destiny roused expansionists’ dreams of Western settlement, the lives of countless Native Americans rested on the brink of great change. An influx of foreign people and their goods in these Indian nations led to much suffering to be sure, but it also set the stage for a rich exchange of cultural ideas. As Americans, Russians, Spanish, and British interests converged in Alaska, the native peoples’ network of trade mushroomed. As they rapidly became dependent on external goods, they also began to exchange social customs with the newcomers.
The explorers, adventurers, traders, and settlers alike faced a treacherous environment that oftentimes posed a direct threat to their lives. In response to this precarious situation, outsiders approached the original inhabitants of the land for guidance. The traditional waterproof parka that Aleutian men wore over their fur garments while hunting had attracted westerners’ attention. Not weighed down by saturated furs or condemned to a damp chill, these Indians triumphed over their wet, frigid habitat. Made by tribal women, this protective gear was composed of seal, sea lion, or walrus intestine. The women would cut yards of animal intestine into long strips then sew the pieces together with a thread made of animal sinew. The string was a crucial ingredient, for, when wet, it would expand to seal the seams.
Among others, the Russia-American Company purchased sets of these water-resistant capes for its crews. In response to the commission, Aleut women adjusted their customary patterns of production, fusing traditional methods with novel styles. Adopting the shape of the 18th century Russian Navy officer’s greatcoat, the women produced westernized designs from the gutskin. These Aleut artists then embellished the utilitarian pieces with ornate flourishes including wisps of fur or cloth and bands of bird quill designs. No two capes were alike; each was a work of art. A product of the interaction between native and western cultures, not to mention hallmarks of artists’ abilities to marry form and function, these capes survive today as emblems of 19th century Alaska at a time of cultural rendezvous.
Works Cited
Miller, Angela, et al. American Encounters: Art, History, and Cultural Identity. London: Prentice Hall, 2008. 231 – 237.
Images Cited
Kramer, Karen. “Intersections: Native American Art in a New Light.” 2013. Antiques and Fine Art Magazine. 22 January 2013.
< http://www.antiquesandfineart.com/articles/article.cfm?request=643>.
As Manifest Destiny roused expansionists’ dreams of Western settlement, the lives of countless Native Americans rested on the brink of great change. An influx of foreign people and their goods in these Indian nations led to much suffering to be sure, but it also set the stage for a rich exchange of cultural ideas. As Americans, Russians, Spanish, and British interests converged in Alaska, the native peoples’ network of trade mushroomed. As they rapidly became dependent on external goods, they also began to exchange social customs with the newcomers.
The explorers, adventurers, traders, and settlers alike faced a treacherous environment that oftentimes posed a direct threat to their lives. In response to this precarious situation, outsiders approached the original inhabitants of the land for guidance. The traditional waterproof parka that Aleutian men wore over their fur garments while hunting had attracted westerners’ attention. Not weighed down by saturated furs or condemned to a damp chill, these Indians triumphed over their wet, frigid habitat. Made by tribal women, this protective gear was composed of seal, sea lion, or walrus intestine. The women would cut yards of animal intestine into long strips then sew the pieces together with a thread made of animal sinew. The string was a crucial ingredient, for, when wet, it would expand to seal the seams.
Among others, the Russia-American Company purchased sets of these water-resistant capes for its crews. In response to the commission, Aleut women adjusted their customary patterns of production, fusing traditional methods with novel styles. Adopting the shape of the 18th century Russian Navy officer’s greatcoat, the women produced westernized designs from the gutskin. These Aleut artists then embellished the utilitarian pieces with ornate flourishes including wisps of fur or cloth and bands of bird quill designs. No two capes were alike; each was a work of art. A product of the interaction between native and western cultures, not to mention hallmarks of artists’ abilities to marry form and function, these capes survive today as emblems of 19th century Alaska at a time of cultural rendezvous.
Works Cited
Miller, Angela, et al. American Encounters: Art, History, and Cultural Identity. London: Prentice Hall, 2008. 231 – 237.
Images Cited
Kramer, Karen. “Intersections: Native American Art in a New Light.” 2013. Antiques and Fine Art Magazine. 22 January 2013.
< http://www.antiquesandfineart.com/articles/article.cfm?request=643>.