Buckskin Leggings: Significance and meanings?

[kahkakew]

Tansi?

For those dancers who wear leggins, tell me about the reasons and teachings around the style and marings on the leggings you wear or have seen worn?

The ones I wear hold significance for many reasons, but I am interested to see what other indians have to say!

Kahkakew

[kahkakew]

Either no one wears leggings or you have no idea what they represent, man not event he hobbyists answered...darn, would of had fun with their false knowledge.
Maybe Terry or Inuk know, they know everything !!!


Kahkakew

[bluewolf]

OK, I'll bite, I seen this a few weeks back, but decided not to answer because I too, wanted to see what others had to say.

I wear white ones, fringed, with black lines on the bottom, why? I'll tell you as soon as you tell me why you wear yours.....

[travelingmocs]

It depends, leggins are leggins. They were used by lots and lots of tribes. Now, knowing how they were made and colors that were used is the trick.
I wear wool leggins with ribbion work on them. I have some kiowa tab leggins. I really want to make some commanche flap leggins. It all has to do with tribal distiction.
Now a days many people jsut wear beaded knee bands, cause its way to hot to were leggins.
CAUTION:

Do not make a big deal with religous stuff, thease are clothes thats all.


Text

[bluewolf]

Ha ha ha, with respect to kahkakew, I'm sure your gonna get bashed, BUT, that's the reason why I didn't explain why I wear leggings, I didn't want kahkakew to give me a big lecture on the religous aspects of why I should wear what I wear...

Although I live my life in the traditional manner, I agree with you travelingmocs, that they are clothes to dance in, if it looks good, and it makes you feel good, then what the hey, dance, dance, dance.....

[Louis Garcia]

For those that are interested.
The Minnesota Historical Society in St. Paul has the Gilbert Wilson Papers. Mr. Wilson circa 1915 recorded what all the 'X', 'U', 'O', etc. mean to the Hidatsa.
These symbols are painted on the hide leggings.

[wardancer]

O.K. I'll bite too! lol
I am Southern Cheyenne , and for that reason , I wear "Old Style " Cheyenne Flap Leggins.
Yes , they are extreamly hot in the summer.
The beadwork border is one of our families designs , traditional Cheyenne designs.
Historically , we didn't wear leggins in hot weather , only for comfort and warmth in cooler weather.
My first pair , I brained myself , cut , sewed & fringed , and when I made my new ones , I passed the others on to the grandson of one of our Chiefs .
Let the bashing begin! LOL

[kahkakew]

Got your helmuts on..ready..here goes....ouch!!!!!!

Actually, I will give a little info at a time as it is mainly applies to Plains Cree, which is very similar to Blackfeet, Lakota traditions, it will be similar.

The info I was looking for was the significance of the stripes, their colors, numbers and how one attains them.

So, for tonight, the stripes in my traditon represent two significant accomplishments, one that the seven main ceremonies have been completed successfully, and secondly that the rites to them have been earned and passed on.

There are dozens of ceremonies, but it is the main ones which are the initial seven. The first black seven stripes represent the completion of the ceremonial requirements, the red stripes which follow between them signifies that the rite to conduct the ceremony has been acknowledged and passed on to the dancer wearing the leggings.
The type of hide is also significant in relation to ones society/clan/totem..etc.
The quill and/or bead work relates to tribal, clan, society, family and community association, names, rites attained, etc.

Thats enough for now...you can take your helmuts off....someone help Terry and Inuk with theirs please, they have theirs on backwards!!! Just kidding..settle down.

Kahkakew