Cotton cloth, twill tape, seed beads, facetted beads, thread.

Rectangular panel with a pair of straps, pouch sewn shut, Panel backing brown cloth, Strap backing black cloth, All edges except bottom edge bordered with purple twill tape, Twill tape forms tabs at bottom corners, Sewing done with black and white thread and pink silk thread, Appliqué floral design of overlaid spot stitch beadwork.

Pearlized white background used over entire surface, Front of pouch panel and strap decorated with large beaded floral designs using multi-coloured opaque, semi-translucent and iridescent beads, with silver round and square facetted beads as accents and applied using the overlaid spot stitch, Large multi-coloured tube beads on string form loop fringes along bottom edge.

"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 pouchs 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

The 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.

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

Hudson's Bay Company Winnipeg Retail Store is identified as the source of this bandolier. "Treaties: We Are All Treaty People "; Long term exhibit: Parklands/Mixed Woods Gallery.

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.

Manitoba Museum