| |
| |
|
|
| |
traditional
materials cotton cloth
moose hides
animal furs
winter boots
are called
Mukluks
mukluks
are made of
moose
hide
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Traditional Winter Clothing
| Long before there were fancy materials
like Nylon and Gore-Tex people were living and traveling through the
Boreal Forest
s and far beyond. Traditionally the Cree and Ojibwa people
made their winter clothing out of animal skins and furs. The skins
were tanned using animal brains to keep the hides from spoiling. Moccasins,
called Mukluks, were made out of moose hides and lined with rabbit
furs for winter boots. Furs were also used to make leggings, parkas,
hats, and mittens. The voyageurs brought cloth, canvas, felted wool,
metal needles, and thread which could be used to make clothing. |
Click on photo to enlarge
Our friend, Bert, wears a beaver hat and a synthetic fleece
jacket. A combination of old and new materials and traditions
helps to keep him warm as he travels in the winter.
|
Soon a new form of clothing developed
that was a combination of furs, wool, and cloth. The positive attributes
of all materials were used to make better clothing.
Today many people use high-tech fabrics
that are supposed to be much better than cotton cloth and fur. However,
some people have learned that the traditional styles of clothing developed
over centuries really have their benefits and in the cold, sometimes unforgiving
Boreal Forest
the old ways are often the best ways.
Eric and I use a combination of new
high-tech materials as well as older tried and true designs. We use Mukluks
made of canvas and moose hide, very similar to the once used 200 years
ago. We also use a cotton anoraks (jacket). Mine has a fur ruff around
the hood for added warmth. Eric used wool long underwear, because it does
not smell as bad and the new high-tech long underwear after several weeks
of use. I use the high-tech long underwear, but after this trip Eric may
demand that I switch over to the wool long johns!
The Wilderness Classroom Organization
4605 Grand Ave.
Western Springs, IL 60558
(630) 204-0420
info@wildernessclassroom.com
All content copyright (c) The Wilderness Classroom, 2002. All
rights reserved.
| Home
|Contact Us | Privacy
Policy | Terms of Use
|
|
|
|
