Identity by design: Tradition, Change and Celebration in Native Women’s Dresses

Identity by design: Tradition, Change and Celebration in Native Women’s Dresses [http://www.nmai.si.edu/exhibitions/identity_by_design/IdentityByDesign.html ] - For many generations, Native American women have crafted dresses that are both aesthetically pleasing and also tell important stories. These stories incorporate different visions about their respective tribal values and family status. This online exhibit, curated by Colleen Cutschall and Emil Her Many Horses, pays tribute to these creations. After reading a brief introduction to the site, visitors can make their way through sections that include “19th-century style”, “Indigenous Innovation”, and “Forming Cultural Identity”. Each section contains explanatory captions, primary documents (including photographs and drawings) and some very nice interactive features, such as a feature that shows how a side-fold dress was made and worn. Perhaps the most admirable aspect of this site is that it illuminates both past traditions and current practices of Native American dress making.
>From The Scout Report, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2007. http://scout.wisc.edu/