Published on March 5, 2013 by Amy Moccasin, skin shoe worn by
indigenous people of North America, excepting the sandal wearers
of the Southwest area. There were two general types of
moccasins, the hard-soled, which was used in the Eastern
woodlands and the Southeast cultural areas, and the soft-soled,
used in the Plains area. The hard-soled moccasin was made by
sewing, with sinew thread, a rawhide sole to a leather upper
piece; the soft-soled moccasin was one piece of soft leather
with a seam at the instep and the heel. Boot or legging
moccasins (sometimes reaching the hip) were worn from Alaska to
Arizona and New Mexico, but they were generally part of the
woman’s costume. The moccasins of certain tribes were
distinctive, and sometimes a moccasin track could indicate the
tribe of the wearer. Moccasins were usually symbolically
decorated with porcupine quills and, after the coming of the
Europeans, with glass beads. Special moccasins were used for
ceremonies such as the Iroquois adoption service, which requir