As you can imagine the topic of playing “Cowboys and Indians” comes up on a fairly regular basis with a houseful of boys. While all participate to one degree or another, there is one who has taken it to a whole new level. PW has been interested in all things American Indian for quite awhile now.
The experience of making moccasins winter-before-last spurred his creativity, and he set about making all his own Indian accouterments with varying degrees of success!
He made requests for a deer hide for months, with which to produce his attire, but the price for a deer hide seemed a little steep for just a “cut up and sew” practice session. His shortage of raw materials forced him to take his creativity and imagination a step further. We had leather scraps laying around he was allowed to have, and friends also gave him leather scraps.
Last summer he begged me to take pictures of his creations while fully dressed in his regalia. So, with Kit home and able to watch baby VAR, we dressed PW up like an Indian, added the embellishment of a “mohawk,” and had a photo shoot.
We started the shoot at the boys' fort which they constructed entirely by themselves.
PW has cut out and hand-sewn his “Indian Outfit” entirely by himself. He came up with his own patterns after looking over various books we have on hand.
Next, we went squirrel hunting. His outfit includes a bow, quiver, arrows, leggings, moccasins, and his prize possession - a breech cloth!
Here he nocks the arrow (correct terminology for loading it) . .
"Draw" and "Shoot!"
He missed the squirrel, so it was off to see what else he could scare up.
The bow and arrow he also made entirely by himself, as we know nothing about making such things. Fortunately, we added a new customer to our dairy business, who, much to my son's delight is something of a historian and craftsmen in Indian lore. He taught him how to make arrows, and supplied him with the obsidian and showed him how to make his own arrowheads. His brothers complained of all the little glass rock chippings he left on the bedroom floor that they stepped on. Arrowhead making finally got banned to outdoors. That stuff is surprisingly sharp!
And what "Indian" boy doesn't like to test his athletic ability? Even I was impressed!
Of course it was a running jump, but still! PW constructed his leggings from a friend's leather couch they disposed of.
All that running and jumping just naturally makes you hot and thirsty!
And what self respecting "Indian" doesn't practice his stalking ability?
Shooting from a kneeling position should also be practiced.
A close up of the leather couch leggings.
His trail worn moccasins.
His quiver full of arrows.
Obsidian arrowheads handcrafted solely by 9-year-old hands. PW attached them to wild rosewood our friend harvested especially for him. PW then had to follow instructions on how to peel and hang the sticks so they would dry straight.
Turkey feathers from the local, wild, populace, decorate the other end of the shaft.
He crafted the bow from a local yew tree that he cut a piece off from and dried behind the stove all winter and then slowly whittled down.
I am thinking these pictures might have to come out again about graduation time or even during the wedding reception! It would be surprisingly insightful for the new bride!