Spirit of Siberia: Traditional Native Life, Clothing, and Footwear

Monika Rohlmann is an environmental consultant in Yellowknife, Northwest
Territories.

In this book, the authors of Our Boots: An Inuit Women’s Art (1995)
turn their attention to the Inuit peoples of the Canadian North. Spirit
of Siberia was the original title of a Siberian clothing and footwear
exhibit held in 1998 at the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto.

The book begins with an overview of the culture–environment
connection of the indigenous peoples of northern Siberia and the Far
East. Individual chapters describe the 16 main cultural groups from 11
regions. The final chapters provide an identification key to Siberian
and Far Eastern footwear, as well as an in-depth discussion of skin boot
preparation techniques. (The absence of dates leaves the reader guessing
as to when a given activity or footwear was popular.) There are more
than 150 photos, including 86 full-color portraits. While most of the
photos are of clothing and footwear, there are many exquisite depictions
of women, men, and families engaged in traditional activities.

It is doubtful one will ever find a more thorough directory of Siberian
skin clothing.