JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., -- Examples of the American Indian craft of fingerweaving will be featured in a temporary exhibit at Van Meter State Park near Miami in December.

The exhibit will be on display in Missouri's American Indian Cultural Center at the park. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

William Stogsdill, Ph.D., an enrolled member of the Delaware tribe of western Oklahoma, and Robert Austin, author of a manual on fingerweaving, have loaned the park some fingerweaving articles of apparel.

On exhibit is a Delaware dance set including sash and garters. Also on display are a shoulder bag, shoulder sashes and hat bands. They are woven in a variety of colored yarn, some beaded in both warp face and interface weaving styles.

There are several different kinds of fingerweaving. Interface or net weaving is a true American Indian craft.

American Indians, circa 1715, borrowed warp face weaving from the French. Interface weaving began to decline after the warp face became fashionable and was adopted by the northeast and northern tribes.

The warp face allowed for more patterns. As beads were added, the weaving became even more decorative.

Van Meter State Park is located 12 miles northwest of Marshall on U.S. Highway 122.

Missouri's American Indian Cultural Center is open Thursday through Sunday and holiday Mondays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, contact the park at (660) 886-7537 or the Missouri Department of Natural Resources toll free at 1-800-334-6946 (voice) or 1-800-379-2419 (TDD).

For more information about Missouri state parks and historic sites, visit the Web at http://www.mostateparks.com.