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15. Grizzly Bear Claw Necklace

Judging by the earliest photographs, most important Meskwaki men owned a grizzly bear claw necklace. Only the large front claws of the plains grizzly bear were used and in some cases, according to Meskwaki tradition only the claws from the left paw--the paw the bears first use to strike at a man when attacked. Many tribes made such necklaces but the finest were made by the Meskwaki. Men from other tribes often tried to buy them for very high prices.

16. feather cape - next

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