Wôbanaki Boy's Clothing from 1800

By 1800, quite a few Wôbanaki people were living in a manner very similar to those Americans and Canadians of European descent. They often wore the same styles of clothes, lived in the same kinds of houses and had many of the same types of possessions. Many Native people, however, kept some elements of tradition, by wearing moccasins and leggings, decorating their clothing with silver ornaments, or keeping their hair long. Some chose to keep traditional ways of life and to acquire just a few European items, like the boy described here, who wears a few items of clothing from the French Canadian people.

As a very young boy or girl, a Wôbanaki child might wear only a breechclout or nothing at all in the warm weather. Otherwise, children would dress like their parents. Wôbanaki people slept in what was most suited to the season. In the winter this would mean wearing several layers to bed; in hot weather a child might sleep without clothing.

Among the numerous items for trade in the 1800s were wool, linen, silk, and cotton cloth, ready-made shirts and coats, knitted wool hats and mittens, felted wool top hats, glass beads, silver jewelry, and metal axe heads and knife blades. Native American people in New England would trade with European people in either Canada or the United States. Items they received might come from England, France, Holland, or as far away as India and China.

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Breechclout or Breechcloth

A breechclout, called “adhozoan”, is a strip of fabric or deerskin that goes between the legs and is held in place by a belt tied around the waist. The breechclout might be compared to modern-day shorts, underwear, or bathing suit. This boy's breechclout is made of wool.

Shirt

This boy's shirt is made of cotton. In Abenaki, a shirt is called “wihibaks”. It is the same style that European boys would wear, but theirs would be tucked into their trousers.

Gorgets

When worn by a British or French military officer, a "gorget" was a badge of office, signifying that the man was not a common soldier. Wôbanaki people liked to wear gorgets simply for adornment. People cut up brass kettles received in trade to make their own gorgets. This boy wears a large gorget, or "arenarakk8i-psk8s8ann" made from a brass kettle and a smaller gorget of silver.

Armbands

These are silver armbands, called “wpedinibial”, worn for decoration.

Kerchief

This is a silk kerchief. The silk would have been imported from India. The Abenaki borrowed the English word for silk, calling it “silki”.

Moccasins

These are summer-weight moccasins with a center seam. They are made from the hide of a white-tailed deer. The Abenaki word for all kinds of shoes is "mkezenal". The English adapted this word into “moccasin”.

Leggings

These are wool leggings, called “medasal”. They are tied to a belt at the waist to keep them up. Leggings were worn for warmth and to protect one's legs when walking through scratchy undergrowth. It is interesting to note that wool cloth used for clothing by Native people at this time was usually either red or blue.

Sash & Garters

This boy wears a sash around his waist and garters, called “kiganibial.” Tied on just under his knees, the sash and garters are made from wool yarn using a technique called "fingerweaving". As the name suggests, fingerweaving is a way to weave using only the fingers, instead of on a loom. The garters help to keep the boy's leggings in place.

Toque

A "toque" is a French term for a knitted wool cap. The Abenaki call these “antigwal”.

Capot

The French call this kind of hooded overcoat a "capot". The Abenaki people call a coat like this a "kchi pikizon". It overlaps in front to button at the shoulder, and a sash holds it closed at the waist. This capot is made of wool. Capots were originally worn by sailors as raincoats and were adapted for use in the woods. They were very popular in the Indian trade.

Hatchet

A hatchet might be kept handy by tucking it into a belt. It would be used for splitting and cutting kindling. The Abenaki word for a single-handed club or hatchet is "temahigan". The English adapted this word into “tomahawk”.

Knife & Model Toboggan

The model toboggan shown here is made of ash splint, the same material used for making baskets. This boy might have made it to sell to tourists. His knife is especially designed for carving canoe ribs or wide boards. The Abenaki word for a toy toboggan is "tôbangansis", meaning little sled.

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