The Vikings NA
The Vikings NA is a Viking-Age re-enactment group based in the United States of America.
The group was founded in 2003 as the North American arm of The Vikings (reenactment) and it currently has member groups in California, Oklahoma, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Nebraska, Mississippi, and Washington.[1]
Its primary mission is to reenact the culture of "Viking Age" Northern Europe. This is achieved through participation at Renaissance Faires, Scandinavian heritage festivals, and other living-history events where period crafts and live-steel weapons combat are demonstrated to members of the public.
The standard format is for the group to set up an encampment — several tents and shelters, with tables of craft demo displays. Members appear in garb — Viking-era costume. Typically, this consists of a tunic (shorter for men, ankle-length for women), breeches (men), turn shoes, a belt, small knife, jewelry, and a hat (men) or kerchief (women).
Compared to other groups much greater emphasis is placed on ensuring that clothing and equipment worn or used by the group members are as close a representation of what the peoples of Viking-Age northern Europe used or wore as possible. For example, man-made fibres, plastics, fake fur and cotton are not allowed in camp.
In January 2009 Vikings NA became independent of the UK body and incorporated in Indiana for Non profit status . While the two organizations maintain close ties over the years and has a similar structure, the Vikings NA operates independently of The Vikings.