Snowshoes are one of the truly important and beautiful creations of the human race. They are basically a North American phenomenon. Without them the northern reaches would be uninhabitable in winter. No one could hunt or walk long in deep snow. The native people made them in different styles, sizes, and shapes to suit the terrain and snow condition of their local areas. There are few elders left who can make them and only a very few young people who are learning the craft. This craft that is thousands of years old may be dying out in one generation.

This site presents photographs of native snowshoes from private collections. We hope that others will appreciate the beauty of these snowshoes and the skill involved in their construction.

• Elbow style
• Ojibwe style
• Huron style
• Alaskan style

If you have pictures of snowshoes you would like to contribute, or comments about the web site, send Judy an email. If you want to discuss the fine points of native snowshoes, better contact Rich.

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