Bandolier bag facts for kids
A bandolier bag is a special shoulder bag. Native American people have used these bags for a long time. They are often decorated with many colorful beads. Long ago, these bags were made from animal furs, woven materials, or animal hides. Later, during the time of the fur trade, Native American women started making them from new materials. They used wool cloth, cotton lining, and pretty silk ribbons.
Contents
What is a Bandolier Bag?
A bandolier bag is a type of pouch worn over the shoulder. It hangs across the body. These bags are named after "bandoliers." A bandolier was a belt worn by soldiers. It held small containers of gunpowder. People also call these bags "shot pouches" or simply "shoulder bags."
The Ojibwe Name
In the Ojibwe language, these bags are called gashkibidaagan. This name comes from two Ojibwe words. "Gashk-" means "enclosed" or "attached together." "-bid" means "tie it."
Where Does "Bandolier" Come From?
The English word "bandolier" comes from the French word bandouliere. This means "shoulder belt." The French word came from the Spanish word bandolera. This is a smaller version of banda, which means "sash."
How Were Bandolier Bags Used?
People wore bandolier bags in different ways. They could wear them across one shoulder, letting the bag hang at their side. Or, they could wear them in front, like an apron. Men often wore these bags. They used them to carry important items. These items included tobacco, pipes, medicine, or flint for starting fires.
Images for kids
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A Muscogee bandolier bag from around 1820. It is made of wool, cotton, silk, and glass beads.
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A loom-beaded bandolier bag. It is thought to be made by the Winnebago people around the 1880s.
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A close-up of an Ojibwa bandolier bag from about 1900.
