PROBABLY FORT BERTHOLD

The Hidatsa were noted for their quilled shirts which were in great demand on the Northern Plains and often traded or given as gifts to visitors. Shirts given or traded were simple in design often containing only the quilled strips on a fringed shirt base. In the case of the shirt offered here, we have a different situation. This was a shirt made for, and used by, a Hidatsa man. The quilled strips are longer than the ones on trade shirts, and there are special additions which show this to be a personal shirt. The addition of the summer weasels flanking a changing weasel (from white to brown) on the back are of a very personal nature. In addition there are two spotted skunk skins on the front on each shoulder. All these indicate that the man was instructed to construct the shirt in this particular manner and for his personal use. As a result we have an exceptional shirt, artistically strong, that was definitely used personally.

Paul Raczka March 14, 2000