Lakota dresses were traditionally made of two deer or elk skins with the hind section folded over to form the yoke or upper part of the dress. By the late 1800s, larger skins were few, and women often utilized a third hide to form the yoke portion of the dress. This was done by cutting out the end of the sleeves in a way that emulated the leg shape. These large, magnificently beaded dresses were a product of the reservation period when women’s roles and responsibilities began to change from daily subsistence to more sedentary activities. Such dresses were worn for special occasions; use often limited by the sheer weight of up to 15 pounds. The U-shaped motif at the center bottom of the yoke represents a turtle, which for the Lakota is connected to reproduction and protection for children.
