Coushatta Tribe hosts moccasin-making workshop to preserve tradition
The Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana recently held a moccasin-making workshop to help preserve and share cultural traditions among its members, according to the American Press. Missy Stanford, director of the tribe’s Heritage Department said the goal of the workshop was to connect tribal members of all ages to their ancestral past through the craft of moccasin making.
The workshop was led by Caspie Abbey, from the Hidatsa, Mandan, Dakota and Crow tribes, and her husband, Donovan Abbey, a member of the Coushatta Tribe from Mandaree, North Dakota. Together they taught nearly 20 participants the history, artistry and techniques of traditional moccasin making. They emphasized the importance of passing the skill to future generations and noted the cultural significance of moccasins, which are used for powwows, special dances and ceremonial purposes.
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