beaver patella

Item number 1927.1734 . 176451 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 beaver's patella, of which there is a single specimen in the collection, was used in a form of moving divination. The bone was placed on a hot stove or stone and a question was asked, usually with reference to the possibility of success in a coming beaver hunt. If the bone trembled, success was assured, but game would be scarce if the bone did not move (Speck, 1935, pp. 162-163).
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 rotule de castor, dont un seul spécimen se retrouve dans la collection, était utilisée pour une forme de divination de déplacement . L’os était placé sur un rond chaud ou une pierre et une question était posée, habituellement en référence au succès possible de la prochaine chasse au castor. Si l’os tremblait, le succès était assuré, mais le gibier sera rare si l’os ne bouge pas (Speck, 1935, pp. 162-163). »
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
beaver patella
Identification Number
1927.1734 . 176451
Type of Item
beaver patella
Material
beaver bone

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
Rotule de castor
Matériaux
os de castor
Ethnic Group
Montagnais
Collection
Lake St. John Objects
Provenience
North America, Canada, Quebec, Labrador, Lake St. John

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