Belt
tavsi
“belt”
Language:
North Slope Iñupiaq
Also called:
tiġiksraq
“belt”
Language:
North Slope Iñupiaq
Also called:
caribou teeth belt
Nuvuŋmiut tainnaasiñik tavsiqapiksuaġuumaruat. (People of Point Barrow were known to wear these belts.)
—Ron Brower, Sr., 2002
A woman’s dance belt made with sets of front teeth from more than 100 caribou. It is decorated with brass rifle cartridges that might have been used to hunt the animals. The blue and white beads are probably Chinese, obtained from American whalers or traders.
Culture:
Iñupiaq
Region:
Arctic Slope, Alaska
Village:
Point Barrow
Object Category:
Clothing
Object Type:
Belt
Dimensions:
Length 101cm
Accession Date:
1923
Source:
Captain J. C. Smith (collector)
Museum:
National Museum of the American Indian
Museum ID Number:
122501.000