Collection place: Upper Yukon River, Yukon-Koyukuk Borough, Alaska / Function: 5.5 Stimulants, Narcotics, and Accessories - Hearst Museum Portal Search Results

Start Over Collection place Upper Yukon River, Yukon-Koyukuk Borough, Alaska Function 5.5 Stimulants, Narcotics, and Accessories

Hearst Museum object titled Pouch, accession number 2-2748, described as Front panel of red wool stroud with multi-colored floral patterned beadwork, back panel of brown wool cloth, lining of printed cotton cloth, handle of braided wool yarn, front panel has four elongated appendages with pendants of red and blue faceted glass beads and multi-colored wool yarn tassels, back panel has two appendages which match front and two that are half-length, pouch and appendages outlined and edged in white seed beads. Some beads deteriorated and missing. Two panels are tacked together at top, two cotton bias tape loops stitched to back panel at top. Hand sewn. Cf. 2-5769-70, 2-57887. Called octopus bags because of their tentacle-like appendages terminating in eight points, bags such as this were probably produced by the Athabaskan Indians, although they were often collected among the coastal Indians such as the Tlingit who prized them. References: Collins, Henry B. et al, "The Far North," Indiana University Press, Bloomington, 1977, p. 159 #203, p. 160 #204. "The Athapaskans: Strangers of the North," National Museum of Man, Ottawa, 1974, p. 114 #157.