Unknown

Blue Collection

c. 1937

This photo shows a young Native girl from the Eklutna Industrial School sitting in foreground wearing a traditional "Kuspuk" with a double ruff hood. The girl, identified as "Bertha", smiling shyly while holding a piece of leather up to her face, is said to be demonstrating how traditional "mukluks" are made by chewing the sole leather to form the rounded toe and soften it for sewing to the upper portion. A pair of finished fancy mukluks sits in foreground with an unfinished sole piece partially visible behind. The girl is wearing mukluks of a simpler design. Hanging directly behind the girl is a large decorative Afghan with a small sign indicating it was made by the "Flying Needles Club" of the Industrial School and that it was to be raffled off. Close inspection of the girl's Kuspuk shows the cuff of her right wrist is made of short-haired fur while her left one is of cloth, raising the question of significance.

Palmer, Alaska

Black & White paper print, 3-1/2" x 5-3/4"

Eklutna Girl#1x-Blu