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• Irene Speak Thunder (Assiniboine, 1891-1952)
• Ft. Belknap, Montana
• Early 1900s
• Hide and beads
• Native Arts acquisition funds, 1963.161

The Assiniboine reside mostly in the Great Plains region. They call themselves “Nakoda,” which means friendly people or allies. Although this robe is beaded, other examples of this type are often decorated with painted designs. The stylized diamonds in red and white in the center and green and white at the corners signify eagle feathers. This motif is typically applied to clothing worn by men. A robe like this was created as a gift for the Assiniboine’s “give-away” dance. During the dance, the dancer gives away items to fellow community members. These dances were performed to remember a relative who had passed away or as a special thank you to the community when someone felt they had been especially blessed.