Made of navy wool cloth, orange binding, burgundy binding, black and red check lining, glass beads, thread.

Lined (backed) with checked fabric and bound with orange binding and a small section of burgundy binding.

Six-pointed geometric figure as a base supporting a projecting stem with tiny leaves ending with a stylized three-lobed floral beaded onto navy fabric.

Regarding the use of decoration in Eeyou (Mistissini- Eastern James Bay Quebec Cree), Oberholtzer notes, "For as long as Europeans have been in contact with the Cree people, we have been apprised of the care the Cree took, and continue to take, in dressing up for special occasions - from trading to feasting to greeting boats and so forth. Since the advent of photography women have been depicted in their finery of tartan shawls, beaded leggings and hoods while the men are usually shown in European dress" ( Oberholtzer 2005: 310). She goes on to argue that "As we know that the Eeyou (Mistissini- Eastern James Bay Quebec Cree)women embedded indigenous symbolism into the overtly "European" floral imagery of their beaded hoods, it takes only a small leap of faith to suggest that the beaded "feather" held an analogous position in Cree society" (Oberholtzer 2005: 310).
Cath Oberholtzer, "Material Culture of the Mistassini Cree: Local Expression or Regional Style?" Papers of the Thirty-sixth Algonquian Conference. Christoph Wolfart, editor. Winnipeg: University of Manitoba. pp. 287-321.

According to Speck's field notes, this cloth panel feather represented a feather. He stated "These are worn on the caps by men when they are dressed up" (NMAI Box OC 120, no. 1, page 2).

NMAI Catalog Card.

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

Record created as part of practicum in fall 2008.