The Moccasin

Moccasins are slippers made of leather and consist of a sole and sides made of one piece of leather and stitched together at the top. The Plains Indians wore hardsole moccasins, because their territory was mostly rock and cacti. The eastern Indians wore softsole moccasins, because they walked on leafy ground through the forests. The pattern and design of beads sewn into the front of a moccasin indicated one's tribe.

Moccasins are typically all brown. They became popular in the 1940s when Americans began to stop along roadside at Native American stalls or shops near reservations. They truly are works of art and highly collectable now. For modern day moccasins, see below for some ideas. And, if you are interested in learning more about Native American people, there is no better place to start than with any image from Thomas Curtis life long work.