Making Moccasins

Northern Arapaho traditionalist Karl Whiteplume lives on the Wind River Reservation. He grew up watching his grandmother make moccasins. She taught him, “If you want to have moccasins, you have to learn how to make your own. I’m not always gonna be here.” So as a young man Whiteplume learned to make his own moccasins and has been doing so since. While attending treatment for drug and alcohol addiction, he was reminded of what his grandmother taught him. He started making himself another pair. Karl says, “When moccasins are made, family designs are beaded on them.” The designs on the moccasins in this video represent the mountains, knowledge passed down to him through his grandmother.

Moccasins are made by first measuring the foot from front to back and then by measuring the width of the foot. Karl explains how to subdivide the moccasin’s top to begin laying beads.

Moccasins are worn during Powwows and religious ceremonies. They even have a day in the calendar year during National Native American Heritage Month when you are encouraged to wear them! November 15th is ‘Rock Your Mocs Day’ and has extended to a week-long event, allowing for more individuals to participate in honoring their culture and heritage.

Karl does a tutorial on making moccasins.