Material: Cotton cloth, black satin, thread, seed beads, wool tassels.

False pouch, Rectangular pouch panel with shoulder strap, Sewing done with black and white thread, Thirteen loom woven beaded tabs attached to bottom of panel to form fringe, Red and grey wool tassels.

Pouch panel and strap made of beige cotton cloth, Panel backing black satin, Strap backing red and white patterned cloth, All edges, except bottom edge, bordered with burgundy velvet, Black and white thread, Front of pouch panel and strap decorated with large, beaded, symmetrical floral designs on a iridescent, translucent white background, Multi-coloured opaque, semi-translucent, and white core beads applied with an overlaid spot stitch, Floral designs applied over brown paper, Tabs are checkerboard in the mid-area with an "X" shape at either end using opaque blue and navy, white core red and translucent iridescent beads, Fringes have red and grey wool tassels at ends.

"Bandolier bags most likely originated in the Upper Great Lakes region during the 1840s and 1850s. Fashioned exclusively from European materials and adorned with thousands of beads, bandolier bags were primarily for show, as a symbol of identity, wealth and status. Although initially functional, by the late 19th and early 20th centuries many of the bags had false pouches or none at all. Sometimes called "friendship bags", they were often created as gifts to strengthen relationships within communities or between nations. By the 1870s they had become an important element of formal dress worn mainly at ceremonies and celebrations by men, and occasionally by women. They wore them - singly or several at a time - crossed over the torso or draped around the neck. The wearing of more than one bag was generally the prerogative of a leader or a person of high honour." (McCord, 2013). Bandolier adopted by Ojibwa in 19th century after seeing bullet pouches used by British soldiers. Bullet pouches were plain and decorated with crest or coat of arms. When idea adopted by Ojibwa, they were greatly prized and highly decorated ceremonial accessories. They became so highly prized by Ojibwa and other tribes (especially Sioux), that one bandolier could be traded for one pony. They became a status symbol of highest ranking Midewiwin priests.

From catalogue records.

Hudson's Bay Company Winnipeg Fur Trade Department collected materials in preparation for 250th anniversary celebrations of the HBC in 1920. Many of these items were used in the Processions and Pow Wow at Lower Fort Garry in May, 1920. This bandolier was on exhibit at Beaver House, London, England prior to coming back to Canada in 1973.

McCord Museum, Wearing Our Identity. Montreal: The McCord Museum, 2013; Print.

Hudson's Bay Company Beaver House, London, England is identified as the source of this bandolier. It was transferred to Canada in 1973.

One of 25,000 of artefacts from the original Hudson's Bay Company Museum Collection which was donated to the Manitoba Museum by the HBC in 1994.

From catalogue records

https://www.canadashistory.ca/explore/first-nations,-inuit-metis/bandol…

Manitoba Museum