eel skin

eel skin

eel skin

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Introduction

Odawa freshwater eel skin from Walpole Island used for medicinal purposes. Natural pattern of skin resembles herringbone, chevron and diamond motifs. Dr. Oronhyatekha Ethnology collection.

Nation of Maker: Odawa
Place of Origin: Bkejwanong Territory (Walpole Island First Nation)
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

GRASAC generated by AN

Materials

Eel skin

Other Notes

Natural pattern of the skin resembles herringbone/chevron/diamonds

Dimensions: 115.5 × 7.5 × 0 cm
Current Location: Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, ON, Canada
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 911.3.173, HD 5841
Publication History

F. Barlow Cumberland, Catalogue and Notes of the Oronhyatekha Historical Collection (Toronto: Independent Order of Foresters, 1904), p 31,

Item 58. "Fresh-water Eel Skin used for Medicinal Purposes. Obtained from a Tahwah Indian Medicine Man, of Walpole Island. In cases of lumbago the eel-skin was moistened with water and wound around next the skin (the patient having, of course, been first subjected to the incantations of the medicine man), thus producing relief."

GKS Reference Number: 1350
How to Cite this Item

Unknown artist, eel skin. Currently in the Royal Ontario Museum, 911.3.173. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2008; GRASAC item id 1350.

Record Creation Notes/Observations

GRASAC team research trip to the Royal Ontario Museum, Dec 15-19 2008, funded by SSHRC Aboriginal Research Grant. Participants: Heidi Bohaker, Alan Corbiere, Lewis Debassige, Anne De Stecher, Darlene Johnston, Stacey Loyer, Trudy Nicks, Ruth Phillips

Ethnography team, Dec 18: Cory Willmott, Trudy Nicks, Anne De Stecher, Ruth Phillips assisted by Tracey Forester

Approximate Place of Origin

42.5602, -82.4973

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