Clothes of the “river” Yupik

Parkas (long plain shirts) of the Yupik Eskimos who inhabited the deltas of the Yukon, Kuskokwim and Nushagak Rivers (Kusquqvagmiut, Magemiut, etc.) were longer than the parkas of the Unaligmiut Eskimos who inhabited the Norton Bay; they were often sown without a hood. Women’s parkas differed from men’s ones with small side cuts on the hem. People wore fur hats that, unlike hood, did not impede turning one’s head. Headdresses of lucky hunters were edged with otter or glutton fur. A wolf or glutton tail sown to the back of the hat served as additional decoration. Because of the lack of sea animals “river” Eskimos widely used salmon or burbot skins. It was used to make waterproof clothes, footwear, headdresses and muttons. Such clothes were not durable, which disadvantage was compensated by the abundance of the material and the easiness of its processing.

Parka. USA, Russian America. The Kuskokwim Eskimos. The first quarter of the 19th cent.		Men's kamleika. USA, Russian America. The Norton Sound Eskimos. The first quarter of the 19th cent.