Belt
naqugun
“belt”
Language:
Central Yup'ik
Women are supposed to have belts. That’s what we were told. If a woman has children, it’s mainly to keep them alive, so you won’t lose their spirits. Even before that, [you wear one] when you become a woman.
—Virginia Minock, 2002
This woman’s belt is decorated with glass beads, brass bells, and rows of front teeth from hundreds of caribou. A caribou tooth belt reflected the hunting skills of a woman’s husband and she wore it during dances, ceremonies, and rituals. The belts were believed to hold powers of curing and spiritual protection, and were passed down as family heirlooms.
Culture:
Yup’ik
Region:
Bristol Bay, Alaska
Object Category:
Clothing
Dimensions:
Length 115.5 cm
Accession Date:
1916
Source:
Museum Purchase
Museum:
National Museum of the American Indian
Museum ID Number:
050635.000
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