Nez Perce
ca. 1820 – 1845
Interpretive text from Nimiipuu Tribal Committee:
"Constructed from Beargrass and Dogbane, these hats were important items made and worn by the women. Reference to these hats being worn in pre-contact times is related in the Nimiipuu story of battle between "Cold Man and Warm Man,' when the sign of the birth of a female child was fortetold by the basket hat falling from its resting place (Fletcher, 1891)."
Beargrass, wool, hide, hemp, cedar root. H 21.5, C 56.3 cm
Nez Perce National Historical Park, NEPE 8745