Dig It - 12/8/22
Now Fellow Seekers, these moccasins are of a design and colors that should make one's feet Happy. Whoever wore these must have been a Happy Fellow because he was sporting such fancy moccasins. These were made by the Jicarilla Apache Tribe who live in northern New Mexico. The Apache peoples are Athabaskan speakers who entered the American Southwest from the North sometime in the 14th Century. At that time, they came in contact with the Pueblo People with whom they established a “Raid or Trade” relationship. Sometimes, when the Pueblos were particularly strong, the Apache would trade with them. However, if the Pueblos were weak or disorganized due to famine or internal politics, the Apache might raid.
Early on in their arrival in the Southwest, it appears that the Apache subgroups were a lot more fluid and less identifiable than those we see today. They were primarily hunter-gatherers and used dogs and travois to move about. By the beginning of the 19th century, the costume and customs of the different Apache subgroups became more distinguishable and identifiable.
The design and colors of these Moccasins have been influenced by the Jicarilla's northern neighbors, the Ute. Moccasins are wonderful and affordable examples of Native American beadwork, pick up this pair for your collection now. This is the Prospector saying Adios!