Native American Art, Session I

thread and sinew-sewn, softly-tanned hide; beaded strips along arms, chest, and bib use colors of light blue, red white-heart, cobalt, greasy yellow, pumpkin white, and cut brass; fringe falls along arms and chest; remnants of red pigment on sleeves and collar

length 29 inches x chest 48 inches

Following is an excerpt from a longer, more extensive family collection history: My father's name was George Thomas Worland.  His father was killed while he was just a small child.  His mother, Alice Decelles, later married Gus Decelles.  Grandma, Dad, his sisters and brothers lived on a homestead which would be east of present-day Havre, Montana.  Indians frequently visited the homestead, even when there were uprisings between the tribes and the whites....

This ceremonial Indian costume was given to my father, George Thomas Worland, by a chief's son, who was a sub-chief of the Assiniboine tribe in Harlem, Montana.  The chief's son was a very good friend of my father and his friend were both trying to win a horse-hair braided bridle at the various rodeos they both attended.  My father won the bridle but his friend desperately wanted it also.  He offered my father anything he wanted for the bridle.  My father, George, wanted an Indian costume, which he received...