Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana
Yellow broadcloth, ribbons, felt
National Museum of the American Indian-Smithsonian Institution, 25.5183

In many tribal communities, ribbon-work shirts provide a vibrant link between contemporary life and past traditions. Although today’s garments are usually created from store-bought shirts and ribbons, the colors of the materials and symbols incorporated onto them have special meaning in the Plains Indian world. Although interpretations may vary, the overall meaning and importance of these shirts remains consistent.