Programs & Education

We need your help in restoring our Nez Perce elk tooth dress, circa 1920. While the dress itself is in fine condition, all 500 of the elk eye teeth that make the dress so special and significant are missing. Help us return the dress to its glory by sending in elk eye teeth. We hope to have the dress restored by the opening of the Bison exhibit in September 2008.

The dress is made of navy blue wool and is embellished with pink silk ribbon ties at the neck, brass balls placed upon fields of red wool, and beautiful borders of light blue and pink beadwork. The only things missing from the dress are the lavish rows of elk eye teeth that make the dress so special. The women of the tribe traditionally wore the dress as a sign of prestige. Because the mature elk has only two upper canines, the men of the tribe had to be excellent hunters to obtain enough teeth to complete the dress. Or, they needed to be wealthy enough to trade other belongings for the teeth. Either way, the elk tooth dress was an important social status for the families of the women who wore them. If you have elk eye teeth you would like to donate please send them to the Museum, or contact the Museum for more information.

We have already gathered 170 elk teeth, thanks to donations by the following individiuals:

Tim Wylder of Great Falls, Montana
Mike Anderson of Bozeman, Montana
Jack and Peggy Strain of Idaho Falls, Idaho
Richard Johnsten of Great Falls, Montana
Miles and Brenda Johnson of Saskatchewan, Canada
Larry and Margie Duren of Great Falls, Montana
Tony Lane of Saskatchewan, Canada
Robert and Julie Henderson of Ulm, Montana -- In memory of Shon Robert Henderson
Anonymous Donor
Mike Howard of Great Falls, Montana
Dugan Coburn of Great Falls, Montana
Keith Pinski of Great Falls, Montana
Debbie Christie and Larry Gislason of Saskatchewan, Canada
Thomas A. Petrie of Denver, Colorado
Stan Meyer of Great Falls, Montana
Dave Shane of Floweree, Montana
Sgt. Steve Vinnedge of Great Falls, Montana
Sandra White of Saint Paul, Minnesota
Doris Ball of Great Falls, Montana
Dorothy Rummell of Ulm, Montana
Betty O'Connell of Great Falls, Montana
Norma Ashby of Great Falls, Montana -- In memory of Shirley Ashby
Vida Jensen of Challis, Idaho
Hans Haasis
Tom Bauer of Black Eagle, Montana
Ruth Schaper Royal of Cody, Wyoming
Joni Schaper of Loneaster, California
Greg and Vicki Schaper of Blue Ash, Ohio
Mollie Schaper of Blue Ash, Ohio
Danielle Schaper of Blue Ash, Ohio
Jimmy Joe Lance of Grand Junction, Colorado
Wayne F. Keney of Great Falls, Montana
Craig Sterry of Great Falls, Montana
Janie and Stu Nicholson of Great Falls, Montana
Charlie and Joan Fritz of Billings, Montana