Moccasins

The pictures of these moccasins are from people who were willing to have this information for the public to know.
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Owner: Crystal Lepscier

Materials: Commercially tanned deer hide, beads, sinew, quills

Style: Pucker toe moccasins of the Ojibwe/a woodland style

Size: About size 7 in women’s shoe

Use: This pair is used around the house.

This pair has a floral design on the top with four petals. It represents many things to Crystal: the seasons, her family of four, the four hills of life, even the four R’s (respect, responsibility, reciprocity, relationships). The colors- red and blue- are colors Crystal is naturally drawn to and are complementary to one another. These were made in 2020 and are important as they stand as part of her healing and resilience in the complex days of the pandemic.

“The healing, good thoughts, prayers, and meditation that goes into each design and stitch in moccasins are important. The artist and the wearer are connected in the creation of these items, and that relationship is central to the creation of these items. The pair that I have provided information about are for myself, but I have created others for individuals who did not have the skills or needed strength.”

-Crystal Lepscier

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Owner: Rachel Jeske

Materials: Commercially processed deer hide (the thread/string is a thin cut piece of the deer hide; made from one piece of leather)

Style: Easter Woodland or center seam pucker toe (similar to Potawatomi style).

Size: Mens size 11-10.9”

Use: Sold and used for a funeral

In some tribes, when people pass away they get new moccasins that have never been worn. These are less than a year old as of November 2020.

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Owner: Rachel Jeske

Materials: Commercially processed moose hide (the thread/string is a thin cut piece of the moose hide; made from one piece of leather)

Style: Eastern Woodland or center seam pucker toe (similar to Potawatomi style).

Size: Mens size 7-9.6”

Use: For her second oldest son, worn around the house sometimes, at powwows, and ceremonies held at school and for Rock Your Mocs.

This was the first time Rachel worked with darker leather.

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Owner: Rachel Jeske

Materials: Split Moose hide with artificial sinew for the thread/string (made from one piece of leather)

Style: Potawatomi style (smooth center and longer flaps)

Size: Womens size 8.5-9.6”

Use: She wears them around the house and for Rock Your Mocs week.

Story: This was Rachel’s first attempt at the Potawatomi style. She always uses her feet as her first template so she can make adjustments as she is figuring out a new pattern. This pair was probably taken apart and resewed about five times. These are about one year old.

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Owner: Rachel Jeske

Materials: Deer hide, ribbon, pellon, and cotton fabric, with artificial sinew for the thread/string (the flaps were sewed on separately because of the added ribbon)

Style: Potawatomi style

Size: Womens size 8.5-9.6”

Use: These were gifted to a teacher who wears them at powwows and ceremonies

Story: These, about one year old, were the first pair Rachel made for someone else.

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Owner: Rachel Jeske

Materials: Split Moose hide, velvet, cotton fabric- artificial sinew for the thread/string

Style: Pucker toe

Size: Mens size 9-10.3”

Use: Worn around the house

Story: “My son’s barber is very interested in Native American culture. I’m almost always sewing something. He saw me sewing and asked about moccasins one day and proposed a trade. So we came to an agreement- moccasins for haircuts.” These are about one year old.

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Owner: Rachel Jeske

Materials: Deer hide, seed beads (nylon thread for beading)- artificial sinew for the thread/string

Style: Pucker toe

Size: Newborn size 2-3.75”

Use: Sold, hopefully worn with love

Story: “This was a requested pair of baby moccasins, she requested turtles- beading is still something I work on getting better at. I had to try a couple times for the turtles. I have also been taught to put holes in the soles of baby moccasins. Anishinaabe people (Ojibwe, Potawatomi and Odawa tribes) believe that babies and elders are the closest to the spirit world and since babies do not walk yet holes are put in the moccasin to let the spirits know that they are not ready to go back.” These are about three months old.

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Owner: Brandi Redbird

Materials: Commercially tanned deer hide, seed beads

Style: Ho-Chunk

Use: Mostly for dancing, occasionally at ceremonies

Story: Brandi made these to replace an older pair but has not gotten to wear them much due to the 2020 pandemic.

Museum of Natural History

Moccasins