Art and Status of Indigenous Women

Art and Indigenous women have a history that dates back centuries. Women were tasked with an extremely important role, creating clothes for their tribe. They had to make clothing that would appeal to nature and its animals. They were the tribe's direct link to keeping balance with the world. Indigenous women are also the founding figures in the souvenir industry. Between the late 18th century and the early 19th century, there were large populations of white European individuals across the Great Lakes region. Tourism was booming, and women of the Anishnaabe played to their white audience and created travel purses, shoes, and other textiles useful for caravanning and traveling long distances (Green 2013). Bringing forward souvenirs in the U.S., many Indigenous women used their traditional crafts to provide income for their families. This quillbox is just a small representation of the importance of Indigenous women in their communities and the economy.