FROM CARD: "[Formerly] ON EXHIBIT IN NHB HALL 9, IDENTIFIED THERE AS CENTRAL ALGONKIAN. LEDGER LISTS NO PEOPLE OR LOCALITY INFORMATION." Thunderbird design. Northwest Coast location/attribution on catalogue card is in error, if this is indeed Central Algonkian.

FROM CARD: "SECTION INCLUDING ALL LOWER RIGHT QUADRANT AND PART OF LEFT QUADRANT MISSING; HOWEVER DESIGN CAN BE DETERMINED WITH REASONABLE ACCURACY FROM EXISTING PIECE. LINEAR BORDER SURROUNDING OUTSIDE OF ALTERNATE RED AND SIZE MARKING PARALLEL LINES; EXTENSION INTO HEAD AREA OF PARALLEL LINES OF SIMILAR CHARACTER. LARGE CENTER AREA DIVIDED INTO QUADRANTS BY INTERSECTING BANDS OF RED LINES AND SIZE MARKINGS. WITHIN EACH QUADRANT IS COMPLEX MOTIVE CONSISTING OF A CIRCLE ('SUN SYMBOL'?) ELABORATED WITH DOUBLE CURVES; (EACH QUADRANT IS BILATERALLY SYMMETRICAL ON LONG AXIS). THE ENTIRE PAINTED DESIGN COULD ACCURATELY BE REPRODUCED IN A COLOR PAINTING FROM THE EXISTING FRAGMENT. THE PAINTED DESIGN MORE CLOSELY APPROXIMATES NASKAPI STYLE THAN PLAINS INDIAN PAINTING. PROBABLY FROM THE NORTHERN WOODLANDS - GREAT LAKES AREA - JOHN C. EWERS, JAN. 16, 1948." Artifact is illus. Fig. 2, p. 61 in "Ceremonial Robes of the Montagnais-Naskapi" by Alika Podolinsky Webber, American Indian Art Magazine, Vol. 9, No. 1, Winter 1983, and identified there as "Ceremonial robe fragment. Naskapi [Innu] ... Native tanned unsmoked caribou skin. 100.5 cm long, 63 cm wide. The large center area is divided into quadrants by intersecting bands of red lines and size markings. Within each quadrant is a complex motif consisting of a circle elaborated with double curves; and the circle itself is divided into four equal sections forming a cross." Possible meanings of the design are also discussed on pp. 67-68 in the same article.

From card: "In two pieces (once one specimen); one being upper portion with sleeves; other lower portion; the two pieces fit together perfectly, to make a coat of generalized Naskapi style made of seven pieces of skin sewn together (1 each arm; 1 center back; 1 left side; 1 rt. side; (2 small pieces inset to back). Predominantly decoration is simple painted design in bands of red and size marking. All the latter is linear; red mainly straight lines, some wavy and some solid triangles, at top; also red dots in neck border. Red flannel or strouding edging top of shoulder seams, and arm-body seams. There is no collar, and neck form like that of a poncho Plains Indian shirt. [Culture listed as Algonkian on catalogue card.] Catlin did not visit the Naskapi, if this was collected by him in the field it was obtained most likely in the Great Lakes area. Possibly Ojibwa or Cree - John C. Ewers, Jan. 15, 1948." Identified by Morgan Baillargeon, Canadian Museum of Civilization, 2009, as possibly Montagnais?

Oval-shaped woven basket (a) with a flat, fitted lid (b). Figures in green around centre portion of basket. Lid: one line of purple along rim; centre oval is orange with green swirl surrounding. Base: plaited origin; plain twined (over wide warp strands). Sides: twisted twined work. Slightly indented flange on basket.

Painted bear headdress. The head is wide and slightly rounded, with large wedge-shaped ears on top outer edges splaying slightly to either side. A carved line emphasizes the forehead and head top, which are painted black. Eyes are red and white, surrounded by green, backed by carved red rectangles. The black and natural brown snout is wide, tapering toward the nose where carved nostrils are painted red. The bared teeth are square with pointed cuspids, painted white. The interior of the headdress is hollowed out. "Hank Robertson" is carved in the wood, inside.

DOWN FROM THE SHIMMERING SKY: MASKS OF THE NORTHWEST COAST. MACNAIR, PETER, JOSEPH, AND GRENVILLE EXHIBITION CATALOG, 1990, Publisher: THE VANCOUVER ART GALLERY OBJECTS OF BRIGHT PRIDE: NORTHWEST COAST INDIAN ART FROM THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY.FIRST EDITION. WARDWELL, ALLEN EXHIBITION CATALOG, 1978, Publisher: THE CENTER FOR INTER-AMERICAN RELATIONS AND THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF THE ARTS OBJECTS OF BRIGHT PRIDE: SECOND EDITION. WARDWELL, ALLEN EXHIBITION CATALOG, 1978 ART OF THE NORTHWEST COAST. HARNER, M.J. AND A.B. ELSASSER EXHIBITION CATALOG, 1965