slhew (Mat)

Mats of cattails or tule reed stems were produced by Salish groups. Homer Barnett notes that cat-tail was "an all-purpose fabric and turned the rain very well. In summer, long mats covered the framework of temporary dwellings. In winter, they padded the walls of the plank houses. At all times they were used to sit, to eat, and to sleep on, and as coverings and paddings of various kinds (1955:122). Sizes varied depending on the purpose, and most families would possess a range of sizes.

This mat was commissioned from Mrs. Peters, see also A4508. The edges of this mat are trimmed with a seven strand braid, which is the type of weave which is used for Salish style headbands (See Stewart 1984, p134). These types of braided bands are often secured to the insides of basketry hats to fit them to the size of the specific person for whom the hat was made.

shelter; transportation; domestic

The leaves used for making cat-tail mats are gathered in the summer, cut to even lengths, dried in the sun on the beach, and then stored until needed. The leaves were layed out side by side, alternating the tops and bottoms, and threaded at 10 cm intervals (See Turner, 1979, p150). The cat-tail mats were then sewn together by passing a long hardwood needle through a series of stems, then crimping the stems over the needle with a coarse wooden creaser to prevent splitting, before drawing the thread through. (By contrast, tule mats are twined together with cordage).

Plain mat of parallel light brown cat-tail reeds. Thirteen rows of sewing, with creasing of the material to prevent splitting, at 7 cm intervals. The cat-tail reeds are folded over at the top and bottom of the mat, and these ends are twined together with cotton (?) string at one end and twisted cat-tail rope at the other. The mat is also sewn together with the same twisted cat-tail rope, which is visible at each of the two shorter sides. The shorter sides of the mat are finished with the addition of strips of cat-tail woven together in a seven strand braid. Along one of the short sides, the ends of the cat-tail ropes pierce the braided trim and hang down. These have knots tied at their ends.