made of [body] woolen yarn; [edges] worsted yarn; [decorative element] size 8 white seed beads; [tassels] porcupine quills, moose or deer hair dyed red, 13 metal cones probably made of tin or trade silver, 4 cones are plain, 9 cones have unusual embossed banding; worsted tape [binding tape and loop - could be a later addition]; brown thread attaching loop [possibly a repair];

finger weaving; quill wrapping; ends leading to tassels constructed with ordinary braiding

Original tag probably reads: "N. Amer: Indian Strap Given by Mrs. Fraser Wigg. [ink] 19 xi 94 [pencil]" Laura: Beads are arranged in sets of patterns, central is a repeated "V" motif, outer ones are strips of diamond shapes; Ruth: Classic patterns of the Great Lakes region. Serpent referentially with horns at one end. Patterns have cosmological significance. Hour-glass shape iconic bordering on symbolic referencing thunderbird. Chevron and hatching pattern. Images weren't always planned to viewed. Not sure where the term "otter tail" came from- does it translate an Anishinaabe or Hodenosaunee term?; Robert: uneven patterns: when this is worn, sometimes top has a gap where no beads, where the sash was tucked under; Keith: look at it as it was worn. Motifs all appear to be pulling towards the centre. Possibly 4 directions. Being in centre. Could be black, if black references west; red refrences east; Cory: the series of diamonds is closely related to otter-tail patterns, which are ubiquitous. The metal could be trade silver. Colour could originally have been black, a very unstable dye in comparison to red, which has good staying power. In response to Laura's question about the end, thinks it was very likely cut ; Heidi: check with Sister Bernard Coleman's book;

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Unknown artist, garter pendant. Currently at National Museums Scotland, A.1894.415. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2007 in which the author took part; GRASAC item id 24890.

9 Apr 2007 Ruth Phillips, On-site researchers: Cory Willmott, Heidi Bohaker, Laura Peers, Ruth Phillips, Keith Jamieson, Alan Corbiere, Henrietta Lidchi, Robert Storrie, Chantal Knowles, Brenda McGoff