Historic Hood River
Regalia
3-16-2017
Notes
I wish I could tie this image to Hood River but I cannot. It is from an album with many local images but a few from eastern Oregon. I’m hoping someone more knowledgeable about local crafts can tell us more about this image. Clearly this is not everyday clothing and jewelry. Everything looks brand new and incredibly fine. Hopefully there is some style or symbols which will identify the locale. Short of that, can anyone identify the trees? My guess is peach or maybe cherry?
charlott
I am finding the guy on the left quite interesting. Is that a cording or beads hanging on his, well, guess you would have to call it skirt? I also see a bone type handle on his left side in what appears to be a scabbard or some sort of holder.
The middle man. That looks an awfully lot like a Knights Templar cross, plus he also has that cording or beads hanging down.
Should have Mary Schlick take a look at this. She might give some insight….
I most certainly am not a tree expert, but I can not be sure if they are a fruit tree leaf or not.
My take is that no matter where they are from, they would be probably considered "wealthy" as their clothing is not in tatters as we see so many. Those blankets are in very good condition, plus lots and lots of beads. Beads in a lot of instances signified wealth.
L.E.
Charlott, I think the bone handle is a "six shooter".
There is a lot of detail in this photo, but I think someone with Native American knowledge will have to decipher.
Notice the hats on the ground? They appear to be used, not brand new. The rest of the clothing appears new.
Melody Shellman
Just throwing this out there. Could this be from an early Pendleton Roundup?
nels
Wonderful picture. Just an aside, the leaves on that tree look to be compound so would rule out fruit. Possibly a nut tree?
Arthur
nels, I took a closer look at the leaves. They are definitely not compound, though I had to look very carefully to be sure. They look like my cherry trees, but peach and almond are pretty similar as I recall.
Also, definitely a pistol as i can see the trigger. I didn’t even notice the hats! Odd they are all lying on the ground.
Arlen Sheldrake
"please take your hats off. I want your faces in the picture". these guys are in their sunday best…..hows that for a phrase from the past. NICE
Jill Stanford
I am going to take a wild guess and say that they could be visiting Nez Perce. Chief Joseph had the very same ear ornaments. The necklaces are, I believe, shells. The blankets could be early Pendleton. They are wearing their wealth and I agree that the photographer asked them to remove their hats.
L.E.
I dug out my Mary Schlick book on Columbia River Basketry, hoping I might find a replica of the design on the belt bag. I am guessing that Jill and Melody might be right, that the scene is east of here. The shape of the waist bag and the neck beads appear to fit eastern Oregon tribe decoration.