Bag

These large cylindrical twined bags, sometimes called “sally bags”, were used during the harvesting of roots. The Nez Perce needed large quantities of roots, berries, and other plants to last throughout the year. The artist, George Catlin who was in The Dalles, Oregon between 1852 and 1855 described the bags as utilitarian containers for possessions … “salley forth” on their journeys. This bag is made of plain twined hemp and false embroidered with wool. It has silk ribbon edging and the suspension loop is made of smoked deerskin. This bag is made of plain twined Indian hemp; edging anchored with cotton thread and transparent orange seed beads. The false embroidery is wool. It was also said that the “weavers raveled yarns from blankets, trade cloth, and woolen clothing.”