Ceremonial Shirt (sac̉áasın̉ sám̉x̣)

Nez Perce

Interpretive text from Nimiipuu Tribal Committee:
"Men's ceremonial shirt, constructed out of at least 3 hides for the body of the shirt and more hides for the fringe. The neckflaps retain the original form of the animal's neck, which is decorated with a rosette of single bundle, quill-wrapped horsehair. This is a very specialized technique, in which quills are simultaneously wrapped and stitched around a small bundle of horsehair, coiling outward and accented by white glass tradebeads. Shoulder strips are decorated with quillwork, combined with arm strips rendered in black and white glass tradebeads. The long fringes are paired and quill wrapped. These shirts were worn by prominant individuals within the community and represented connection with the Land, which is represented by the hide used to construct the shirt."