Small contemporary woven pouch with geometric pattern, woven in a Nasca style. Open end has curled-down. There is a single long light yellow-brown fibre extending from the bottom corner of the bag.

The dye is brown. The dye is red.

The dye is brown, red, and blue.

OBJECTS OF EXCHANGE: SOCIAL AND MATERIAL TRANSFORMATION ON THE LATE NINETEENTH-CENTURY NORTHWEST COAST. GLASS, AARON EXHIBITION CATALOG, 2011, Publisher: BARD GRADUATE CENTER

« Two pouches were collected among the Natasquan band. » 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.13, fig 22c, e (p.50). « The other Natasquan pouch is made of muskrat skin edged with blue cotton tape. Sewn on the binding is a row of green beads, while around the edges are small loops of red beads (fig. 22c). » 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.13, fig 22c (p.50).

« Two pouches were collected among the Natasquan band. One, in very poor condition, is made from the skin of a loon's neck sewn on a piece of multicolored cotton cloth. The opening is edged with yellow cotton tape, and the sides and flap with purple tape. On the flap is a small, stylized floral design in blue beads. On the sides, flap, and opening are small loops of red, white, blue, and pink beads (fig. 22e). » 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.13, fig 22e (p.50).

« Before the acquisition of breech-loading firearms, the Montagnais-Naskapi, like other Indians, used muzzle-loading percussion guns. These required the carrying of shot pouches, of which there are are five in the Speck collection. The size of the shot pouch was determined by the size of a hunter's fist, since he would be reaching in for a hand-full of shot (Speck, 1935, p. 213). Two pouches, both of which appear to have seen considerable use, are made of black wool felt, the seams being bound with cotton tape. Buttons are provided to fasten the flaps. One pouch, from Kiskisink, has a shoulder strap of the same material as the pouch (fig. 20b) [...]. » 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.11, fig 20b (p.48). « Speck (1935, pp. 213-215) notes that the period during which shot pouches were used most extensively corresponded with the availability, at posts of the Hudson's Bay Company, of beads and a variety of cloth fabric of different colors. Thus the pouches, which were made by women, became one of the most important vehicles for Montagnais artistic expression. As with other decorated objects made and used by these Indians, the designs on shot pouches served as the means by which the spirits of individual owners achieved control over game animals. » 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.11.

« Also associated with percussion firearms were cap pouches, which were large enough for the insertion of two fingers (Speck, 1935, p. 213). The collection contains three, all of which are highly decorated. » « The third cap pouch is made of wool felt and the trim is of red silk. The flap is held in place with a glass button and there is a simple floral ornament in red and green seed beads on the front. Around the edges and on the flap are rows of widely spaced blue and green beads (fig. 22f). » 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.12, fig 22f (p.50). « Speck (1935, pp. 190-191) has noted that for the Montagnais, the symbolic pictorial representation of a plant or animal was equivalent to the actual plant or animal and those portrayed were believed to come under the control of the individual human spirit. Dreams played a major part in suggesting the relationship between specific animals or plants and an individual. The spirit was strengthened by having its dream promptings obeyed and success in subsistence activities was thereby assured. » 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.10.

« Also associated with percussion firearms were cap pouches, which were large enough for the insertion of two fingers (Speck, 1935, p. 213). The collection contains three, all of which are highly decorated. One is made of red wool felt with green cotton tape binding and a strap of the same material. There is light blue cording around the inner edge of the binding. The flap closes with a snap and the front is ornamented with embroidered floral designs in blue, purple, and yellow cotton thread (fig. 22d). » 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.12, fig 22d (p.50). « Speck (1935, pp. 190-191) has noted that for the Montagnais, the symbolic pictorial representation of a plant or animal was equivalent to the actual plant or animal and those portrayed were believed to come under the control of the individual human spirit. Dreams played a major part in suggesting the relationship between specific animals or plants and an individual. The spirit was strengthened by having its dream promptings obeyed and success in subsistence activities was thereby assured. » 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.10.

« The Speck collection contains nine tobacco pouches. » 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), p12. « The remaining seven tobacco pouches are rectangular in shape and close with semi-circular flaps. »Ibis « Another is made of tanned moose skin edged with green cotton tape and a tie of the same material. There are beaded floral designs on the flap and the front and a row of yellow and white beads on the sides and around the edge of the flap (fig. 20d). » 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), p13, fig 20d (p.48). « Speck (1935, pp. 190-191) has noted that for the Montagnais, the symbolic pictorial representation of a plant or animal was equivalent to the actual plant or animal and those portrayed were believed to come under the control of the individual human spirit. Dreams played a major part in suggesting the relationship between specific animals or plants and an individual. The spirit was strengthened by having its dream promptings obeyed and success in subsistence activities was thereby assured. » 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.10.