Tanned, smoked hide; bark strips; porcupine quills, black, white; cylindrical glass beads,black, white;white glass pony beads; re-and blue-dyed animal hair; metal cones; two metal trade buttons; strap: wool yarn, red, green; commercial thread.

Bark strips wrapped with orange, black, white porcupine quills; quill work in simple line stitch;Strap finger woven of red and green wool yarn.

Square and rectangular pouches used by Woodlands Indigenous communities from the eighteenth century on are thought to be adapted from European military dress. In this example, the process of adapting a foreign prototype can clearly be seen. Although the quill techniques and motifs are purely aboriginal, a European-style flap has been carefully sewn on and button holes and European buttons incorporated (Patterns of Power).

Patterns of Power

Phillips, Ruth. Patterns of Power. Kleinburg,On.: McMichael Canadian Collection, 1984.