Parka
Warm clothing is essential when working in the north, and many former HBC staff recall how cold the storerooms were during the winter months. This hooded moose hide parka with floral beadwork and beaver and fox fur trim was made by a woman from Nelson House for Robert Killin soon after he arrived there in 1960. In a letter written on March 13th 1961 he described his usual working attire:
Less of the Davy Crocket lark!!! I wear a pair of beaded mukluks or moccasins also beaded, a pair of mitts with a moose hide fringe and some beading and a mink trim and suede windbreaker which is very nicely beaded across the shoulders and down either side of the zipper and across the pocket.
Click the images to zoom in for a more detailed view.