Beaded buckskin tobacco pouch, Canada, 1860-1880

Beaded buckskin tobacco pouch, fringed at bottom, probably Blackfoot, Plains Indian, 1860-1880

Tobacco has been used for recreational and ceremonial uses in the Americas for centuries. This buckskin (deer hide) pouch held tobacco leaves. It was made by the Plains Indians of North America. It is decorated with a fringe of hide tassels. The intricate geometric beading is typical of their culture.

Native American Indians often created bags with specific designs for contents such as medicines or tobacco. These bags were often intricately decorated with traditional beading. This was especially the case if they held important or sacred contents.