otter's feet

Item number 1927.1734 . 176449.1-2 from the The Field Museum.

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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.
« A single pair of otter's feet was used in a tossing-up divination, usually with reference to otter hunting. The two feet, placed facing each other palm to palm, were tossed into the air. If they came down with the feet facing up, it was considered good, while the reverse was believed to indicate bad luck. A moderate amount of good luck could be expected if one foot came down one way and the other the opposite way (Speck, 1935, pp. 165-167). »
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.

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.
« Une seule paire de pieds de loutre était utilisée dans une divination au lancée, habituellement en référence à la chasse à la loutre. Les deux pieds, placés l’un en face de l’autre paume à paume , étaient lancés dans les airs. S’ils retombaient avec les pieds face vers le haut, c’était considéré bon, tandis que l’inverse signifiait la malchance. Une part limitée de chance pouvait être espérée si un pied tombait dans un sens et l’autre dans le sens opposé (Speck, 1935, pp. 165-167). »
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.

Item History

What

Name
otter's feet
Identification Number
1927.1734 . 176449.1-2
Type of Item
“otter's feet” ?
Material
dried otter

Where

Holding Institution
The Field Museum
Made in
Pekuakami, Lac Saint-Jean, Lake St. John, Labrador, Canada

Who

Culture
Ilnu, Montagnais and Innu

Other

Nom De L'objet
Pieds de loutre
Matériaux
loutre séchée
Ethnic Group
Montagnais
Collection
Lake St. John Objects
Provenience
North America, Canada, Quebec, Labrador, Lake St. John

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