Alaska
Loon Skin Mittens
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The skins of cormorants, auklets, murres, ducks, loons and geese offered Alaska Native people and alternative to fur, fish skin and gut garments. Light, durable, waterproof and warm, bird skins were sewn into parkas, mittens and hats. A bird skin could be worn with the featers turned in for extra warmth or with the feathers on the outside for warmer weather.
A woman worked and rubbed bird skins with her hands before chewing the hard parts to soften them. The skins were then stretched, dried and given a light oil wash to render them more pliable.
Sheldon Jackson Museum, Sitka
