VAQILANI

Caribou hide, glass beads, sinew; L 24.1 cm, W 15.2 cm
Cook Inlet, late 19th century

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Caribou hide bag

The Dena’ina made several kinds of bags from caribou skin for transport and storage of various objects. For example, a hunter might carry sinew thread and a needle in case he needed to repair his clothing while hunting. The Upper Inlet Dena’ina used the skin from the legs of caribou and Dall sheep for making bags. Dena’ina also made bags from bear intestines.

Collection: Alaska State Museum, II-C-71

Image: © Chris Arend/Alaska State Museum