Plains Moccasins

An authentic pair of Plains moccasins, with full beadwork, is valued at between $500 and $700, leading me to wonder whether my fingers should be threading leather instead of writing video reviews. This low-budget, but very detailed, guide to creating a pair of moccasins as worn by the Southern Cheyenne is presented by Vicki Little Coyote, with assistance from her husband Chief Charles Little Coyote. After pointing out the necessary tools, advising viewers on leather choices (use bullhide; rawhide will just bring you grief), and pointing out examples of beautiful finished moccasins, Vicki Little Coyote creates a pair of moccasins using a homemade pattern. The making of the pattern is pretty interesting: the subject stands on a garbage bag, while Little Coyote draws around the foot with a magic marker; then the subject places her hands over the pattern of her foot and Little Coyote draws a superimposed outline over the foot (somehow the hands help to give breadth to the foot pattern in ways which I--a non-professional in matters podiatrist--don't profess to understand). While the instruction is thorough, Plains Moccasins doesn't take much advantage of the video medium. The basic one-camera shot is dead-on (no over-the-shoulder perspective), and while there are close-ups, the straight-on vantage sometimes hides what Little Coyote is doing behind her hands. Still, these moccasins are the real McCoy, not the flashy but cheap imitations seen in gift shops. An optional purchase for larger crafts collections. (R. Pitman)