Hello all Figureteers!

I tried this in the Uniforms Reference forum but trying here as well.

There are claims in the Sagas of Northmen encountering native Americans/Canadians in their settlements at Lanse aux Meadows, New Foundland. This is also somewhat confirmed in local tales that is still around in modern day. Some also claim that the two cultures mingled and the Northmen where absorbed by local tribe.

Im looking for references how these natives may have looked like during this era. Dress and equipment. Especially for warriors.

I know that theres a lot of knowledge out there among you. I have been helped so many times before. Perhaps someone can post a picture or two for inspiration or point me to reliable sources.

Cheers
Janne Nilsson

Hello Janne;
I have some information that I hope will be of use, but I'm not so sure you will find it very helpful. The native people of Newfoundland and Labradour were called the "Beothuk". Here is a link to some information about these people:

http://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/aboriginal/beothuk.php

To make a long, and sad story short, the Beothuk did not do well with contact with Europeans, and retreated from this contact into the interior of Newfoundland where they were cut off of from traditional access to resources like the sea. The last known member of the Beothuk tribe died in 1829, thus these people and their culture became extinct and today, we know very little about them at all. I fear you may have quite a bit of difficulty on finding out the kind of details you are looking for. I did find one photo from a museum that gives you a rough idea of their clothing and how they may have looked, but this is all based on accounts from the early 19th century so I wonder a little about accuracy in such cases.


So, hopefully this helps you going in the right direction. If you search "Beothuk" you'll find a lot more information. Good luck with the project!

Cheers;
Glenn

Thanks for the information, Glenn!

Not knowing much about North America pre Colombus. But where there other tribes in that area, can we make conclussions or educated guesses from their clothing?
Checking links and Wiki this tribe seems to be related or influenced by Dorset Culture and close connected to Iniuts? Perhaps inspiration can be gathered from there?

Cheers
Janne Nilsson

Interesting subject.
Best u can do I think is make common sense extrapolation on what they may have worn. I would lean towards predominantly animal skin and fur... Steer away from woven cloth. Decoration would be painted, rough beads, quills, maybe feathers. Bear in mind, Newfoundland is chill and ALWAYS windy... Garb should be practical and reflect that.

Weapons and tools would be wood, bone, stone, flint, sinew etc... I would expect an utter lack of iron.

Hair... Your guess is as good as mine.

In fact all of the above is speculation and conjecture... Just about all we have for pre-Columbian North American natives.

I imagine I've only served to muddy the waters further... You're welcome

Colin