CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT REGULATIONS FOR NATIVE CONTINGENT 1745-1765 1
Regulations for Portrayal of Native Peoples If you are just starting or are wishing to upgrade your native portrayal, these are our regulations to assist you in creating as accurate a Native portrayal as possible. Many things have been taken into consideration in compiling this list including but not limited to, museum examples, historical documentation and safety. The intent of these regulations is not to exclude anyone, but to create a baseline set of standards for participants portraying Native Peoples in our group while also allowing for individuality. There are plenty of resources to acquire finished goods, instruction, and/or patterns, just ask, we would be happy to help you. Please take some time, read through the list and critique your gear. If you have any doubts, simply ask, or leave it at home. Do your research and ask for help before buying or making anything, doing so will save you time and money! Take into consideration age, context of event, and so forth when planning and/or upgrading your kit. To ensure that the appearance of all adult males portraying Native Americans are as accurate as possible, all male members and their guests portraying such Natives must dress within the following Clothing Regulations. Thank you in advance for your adherence to these regulations. PHYSICAL APPEARANCE Remember we are dealing with a genotype so nothing personifies a Native impression more than dark brown to black hair color and darker skin tone. An effort to move in this direction is recommended. HAIRSTYLES Scalplocks are preferred (well-made prosthetics are accepted). Longer hair is appropriate for older men. BODY HAIR Facial and visible body hair are not acceptable for a Native portrayal. PAINT Documented colors preferred - Red ochre, vermillion and black are very common while blue, green, yellow and white are not. 2
TATTOOS No visible modern examples. When it comes to facial, chest, back. arm and leg tattoos, less is more. CLOTHING All clothing of any kind must be in the correct style and construction of the period. SHIRTS Materials - linen is preferred but cotton is acceptable. Colors first choice should be white or off white; other colors are not as common. Design can be a solid color, small woven check, small woven window pane pattern or proper block print. Paisley patterns are not acceptable. The shirt can be with or without neck and/or wrist ruffles. BREECHCLOUT Plain medium weight wool breechclout in red, blue, green, black or appropriate selvege stroud (May be decorated with silk ribbon, small trade rings and tape/gartering done in period style). Leather breechclouts are not acceptable for an 18 th century event. LEGGINGS Side seam leggings only with flaps that fit the shape of the leg in blue, red, green, or white medium weight wool. Brain tanned leather ( braintan like commercial tanned leather is acceptable as long as the suede side is out). Please no cheetos colored leather. Lobed or moderately decorated flaps are acceptable. Above the knee stockings can also be worn but are not as common as leggings. GARTERS AND LEG TIES May be fingerwoven (oblique weave only), beaded panel (black, white and red geometric), quilled bands, [beaded panel and quilled bands are both to be done in period style], wool strip, tape/gartering, leather strip, English leather/buckle. Inkle loomed garters or leg ties are not acceptable. 3
SASHES Not a mandatory item, however, if you choose to wear one, oblique weave only may be beaded (Avoid assumption style or patterned weave sashes ie.arrowhead, chevron, flame, lightning bolt patterns.) Proper European leather belt and buckle ok. FOOTWEAR Appropriate footwear includes center seam pucker toe or high top vamp moccasins, correct European shoes with buckles or ties or bare feet. Bedroom slippers or Dyer moccasins are not acceptable. We have proper patterns available. MATCH COATS AND BLANKETS Decorated (in period style) or plain wool match coats (Stroud or Melton). All blankets within sight of the public or reenactors must be period correct and made of 100% wool or an 85% wool blend in white, blue or red. No GI issue green blankets. COATS Appropriate coats include sleeved waist coats, or sleeveless waist coats made of linen, wool, linen/cotton fustian or lightweight cotton canvas in a correct solid color or design. Sleeveless waistcoats must be worn with shirts only; capote or blanket coat, civilian styled gentleman s coat or trade coat. Please keep regimentals to a minimum and no mylar trimmed trade coats. HEADWEAR Acceptable headwear includes deer hair roach (Please no porcupine hair roaches ), modest feathered roach (feather cluster ), diadem or envelope style headdress, quilled headband, and tricorn, or other period correct European hats. Headscarves are acceptable; however, they should be kept to a minimum. For winter, wear a wool tuque, hood, or Canadian cap. Any feather used must be from a bird native to Pa. in the 1750 s. (Natives DID have chickens!) CAUTION: Do not wear feathers from protected species. Good imitations are acceptable. OTHER CLOTHING ACCESSORIES Eye glasses were on trade lists. They must be of a period style with no shaded lenses. Leather gloves, wool mittens and scarves may be warn for warmth but must be of a style and color that is correct for the period. 4
A neck scarf of linen or silk may be worn in a solid color or design common for the period. JEWELRY ACCESSORIES Sterling silver is preferred for jewelry but the cost can be prohibitive so German silver is acceptable. EARRINGS Ball and cone earrings in various styles (No open based cones) Silver, brass, or shell triangular pendants in various styles, and small silver crosses. Earwheels are for Revolutionary War portrayals only. NOSEBOBS/RINGS Ball and cone/triangle type in silver only. Please no fleur d lis,out of time period pendants, or gorget types. GORGET Must be of appropriate style, material and construction for the period. BRACELETS AND ARMBANDS Silver and of period style and construction; also, brass wire bracelets. Please refrain from wearing brass armbands. FINGER RINGS Brass, silver and jewel settings of proper style and construction. BEADS/WAMPUM Bead necklaces (do research to ensure you have proper beads for time period!), wampum jewelry, (wristbands/cuffs, belts, collars, etc.) All should be of proper material, style, and construction. TRADE GOODS All trade goods must be of appropriate style and construction of the period and must be listed on historical trade good lists. 5
ACCOUTERMENTS PACK Can be a twined or simple cloth bag made of proper style and construction. A deerskin sack and/or blanket roll are also acceptable. (Please no splint pack baskets as current thought is that they weren t in use during the 18 th century) TUMPLINES/PRISONER ROPES Must be made of period correct materials, construction and style. WATER CONTAINERS Can be a period glass bottle, natural gourd, ceramic jug or metal canteen. Must be period correct style with appropriate strap and stopper. EATING UTENSILS All forks, spoons, cups, plates and bowls as well as cooking vessels must be period correct for the 1750 s, SHELTERS Acceptable shelters include wedge tents of white or off white canvas, lean-tos, brush tents, conicals and wigwams, preferably constructed of canvas, bark, reed, grass mats or a combination thereof. Unacceptable shelters include canvas long houses or similar structures and teepees. Shelters are to be constructed of proper natural materials and may not include modern construction materials if exposed. ie. Conduit pipe, PVC, aluminum poles, plastic tarps, etc. WEAPONS There will be NO hand to hand combat without the consent of all the War Captains and Commanders involved in the event. Once a hand to hand combat scenario is agreed upon by all persons with the authority to do so, the scenario must be worked out in detail with those who will actually be participating in the hand to hand actions. The use of a war club, ax or knife having a soft (Nerf type) foam ball or blade are the ONLY weapons that may be carried and used for participation in the hand to hand scenario. 6
KNIVES Must be of proper period pattern and construction. Neck (can be plain or quilled) and belt sheaths must be of period pattern and construction. Must be kept sheathed at all times unless it is being used as a working tool. AXES/SWORDS/TOMAHAWKS/SPEARS Must be of proper pattern and construction along with proper sheaths while kept in a SAFE context. Also sheathed at all times except for tool use. BALL CLUBS Basically, keep it simple, no Plains style war clubs. FIREARMS Flintlock - type G trade gun, French trade gun or fusil, an early fowler or British Brown Bess. An early rifle can also be used. Keep in mind that you can have an earlier gun for a later time period but not vice versa. Please be aware, educated and proficient with regard to our safety regulations. GUN CASES Any gun case carried openly during an event while the public is present must be made of a style, color and material correct for the period. SHOOTING ACCESSORIES It is recommended that each person also carry a turn key (screwdriver), a knapping hammer, extra flints, spare cartridges in a tight fitting tin, a wiping rag and a pick and brush. These items must be period correct in style and materials. ALL ACCOUTREMENTS SUCH AS POWER HORNS, POUCHES, STRAPS, ETC. Must be of proper pattern, style and construction. Please note that most events will require the use of paper cartridges. All powder horns to be carried at such events must be completely empty. 7
If you have any questions or comments or if you find any written or pictorial documentation that refutes or challenges any of these regulations, please feel free to submit them to Chet Taylor or Frank Forney for consideration. We are all learning. 8