Made of moose hide, canvas, green wool braid, commercial cotton seam binding, embroidery floss, zipper, thread.

Hand-stitched moose hide pouch with heart-shaped top is lined with canvas and the edges of the zipper opening are bound with cotton seam binding.

Bilaterally symmetrical floral design on the lower half has a central rosette and tiny paired leaves embroidered with a chain stitch. On the upper portion the rosette is replaced with a four-lobed figure.

Shot pouches were used by hunters as containers for shot, percussion caps and gun powder. The size of a hunter's fist, determined the size of the bag, approximately 20cm x 20cm (Oberholtzer 2005: 294).

Cath Oberholtzer notes "The Mistassini explain the decoration of clothing and hunting equipment as not only showing respect to the prey but also ensuring that the spirit of the object "does its proper job in the hunt" (Tanner 1979:142). According to Tanner, although the Eeyou (Mistissini- Eastern James Bay Quebec Cree) reluctant to provide any direct symbolic meaning, they did reveal that the instructions for making the decorations on the various charms and items of hunting equipment are dreamed by the hunters, although some wives may decide the correct design" (Oberholtzer 2005:293). Cath Oberholtzer, "Material Culture of the Eeyou (Mistissini- Eastern James Bay Quebec Cree) Local Expression or Regional Style?" Papers of the Thirty-sixth Algonquian Conference. Christoph Wolfart, editor. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba. pp. 287-321.

NMAI Catalog Card.

Item to be cited by Catalog Number, Collection and Institution.

This record was created as part of a practicum in fall 2008.