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Child's parka made of bear intestines and trimmed with leather / Native American; Alutiiq

Essay/Description

Child’s parka made of bear gut, and trimmed with leather.

The Alutiiq would wear gutskin parkas when in a kayak because the gutskin would keep them dry and warm. Gutskin was often used to protect the wearer or the kayak from evil spirits. Alaskans would use the intestines of different animals, including seals, bears, and walruses, to make the waterproof gutskin.

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Title(s): 
Child's parka made of bear intestines and trimmed with leather
Culture: 
Native American; Alutiiq
Date: 
19th century
Period: 
Historic
Place: 
Kotzebue Sound, Alaska, United States of America
Materials/Techniques: 
bear intestine, leather, sinew
Classification: 
Object Type: 
Accession No: 
93.68
Department: 
Not On View

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