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Citations From Vanstone (1982) Article

« The consulting of oracles so as to determine where and when to hunt and to know the future with reference to the weather, illness, and personal matters was extremely important to the Lake St. John Montagnais. It is a subject that has been discussed in considerable detail by Speck (1935, pp. 138-147). A more recent discussion of the subject, with a different interpretation, is found in Tanner (1979, ch. 6). »
Vanstone, James W. "The Speck Collection of Montagnais Material Culture from the Lower St. Lawrence Drainage, Quebec." Fieldiana. Anthropology. New Series, No. 5 (October 29, 1982), p.19.
« Placation of the spirits of game animals was also an important element in Montagnais religion. The collection contains two black bear skulls, one of which is lashed to a piece of wood with narrow strips of caribou skin (fig. 26d). In the Lake St. John area, as well as elsewhere among the Montagnais-Naskapi, the skulls of slain bears were placed in trees. The animals were believed to derive spiritual satisfaction from this procedure and Speck (1935, pp. 102-103, pi. 7) notes that it may be a form of tree burial in which bears, like people, are recognized as being immortal. »
Vanstone, James W. "The Speck Collection of Montagnais Material Culture from the Lower St. Lawrence Drainage, Quebec." Fieldiana. Anthropology. New Series, No. 5 (October 29, 1982), p.20, fig 26d (p.54).

Translation Of Citations From Vanstone (1982) Article

« La consultation des oracles, qui servait à déterminer où et quand chasser et aussi à connaître le futur, notamment en ce qui a trait aux conditions météo, aux maladies et aux questions personnelles, était extrêmement importante pour les Montagnais du Lac-Saint-Jean. C’est un sujet qui a été discuté de façon très détaillée par Speck (1935, pp. 138-147). Une discussion plus récente sur ce sujet, comportant une interprétation différente, se retrouve dans Tanner (1979, ch. 6). »
Vanstone, James W. "The Speck Collection of Montagnais Material Culture from the Lower St. Lawrence Drainage, Quebec." Fieldiana. Anthropology. New Series, No. 5 (October 29, 1982), p.19.
« La pacification des esprits des animaux chassés était aussi un élément important de la religion des Montagnais. La collection contient deux crânes d’ours noirs, dont un est attaché à un morceau de bois avec des bandes étroites en peau de caribou (fig. 26d). Dans la région du Lac-Saint-Jean, comme ailleurs parmi les Montagnais-Naskapis, les crânes d’ours chassés étaient placés dans les arbres. On croyait que les animaux retiraient une satisfaction spirituelle de cette pratique et Speck (1935, pp. 102-103, pi. 7) note que c’est probablement une forme de sépulture d’arbres où, comme les hommes, les ours sont reconnus comme étant immortels.
Vanstone, James W. "The Speck Collection of Montagnais Material Culture from the Lower St. Lawrence Drainage, Quebec." Fieldiana. Anthropology. New Series, No. 5 (October 29, 1982), p.20, fig 26d (p.54).

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