Glass beads, velveteen, cotton and wool braid

Loom woven beadwork bag with an asymmetrical strap. Some of the trade beads are undoubtedly older than the piece itself (CW).

The pouch is decorated with a wedding scene that includes a church with 'stained glass,' a white minister with a cross above him, and an Indian couple with two thunderbirds (or perhaps sparrowhawks) above them. The cross is elongated and clearly Christian, but the crosses above the thunderbirds are equal and clearly indigenous. This scene is bordered by words below, and a thunderbird/feather pattern with white latticing on the other sides, the strap is a continuous beaded floral piece.

Typically, the creature above the people would indicate clan, and marrying within a clan was prohibited, so the thunderbirds may simply mean that they're protected, or that they're Anishinaabe (AC, CW). Writing across the bottom is roughly translated as: "Rice Moon (August or September, depending on region)...unknown...unknown...wedding day". It's unknown who the bag was made by, and for, as it's traditional for the couple to give gifts away on their wedding. The combination of Christian and traditional imagery is interesting, as the wedding couple are represented by the traditional images of the thunderbird and the equal-sided cross, but they are presumably being married by the Christian minister.

"Mah Nome Nee Kay Gee Zis" - Rice Moon (August). "Ee Nee Nee" - Man. "Gee Wee Do" - Wife "1873". "Wee Dee Gay" - Married "Gee Szhee Gud" - Day.

Formally in the collection of Paul Armstrong, Bessle, Oklahoma.