Pair of boy's leggings c. 1890 - 1910

This pair of boy's leggings was made with wool and beads by an artist from the Nakoda (Assiniboine) tribe. These leggings are a striking example of how clothing can act as a canvas for cultural expression. The geometric beadwork isn't just decoration. It carries symbolic meaning, possibly reflecting the boy's family history or status within the tribe. Made in the context of the Northern Plains, where resources were often scarce, the presence of glass beads suggests trade networks and intercultural exchange. Wool cloth also signifies this kind of trade. The leggings themselves could tell us a great deal about the social structure of the Nakoda people. The care taken in their creation speaks to the value placed on craftsmanship and visual communication. To understand these leggings more fully, we need to delve into the archives, looking at historical records of trade, ethnographies, and other visual materials. By doing so, we can begin to appreciate the rich social and cultural world embedded in this object.